Euroleague, Virtus Bologna dominates Asvel Villeurbanne’Asvel Villeurbanne

In the game of the eighteenth day of the Euroleague, Virtus Bologna dominated the French dell’Asvel Villeurbanne beating them 83-69.

From the very first quarter the V Nere dominated finishing it on 17-7 and starting the second quarter with another 8-0 partial. At’halftime the score è 46-29 and in the third quarter there’s the maximum lead for the hosts, +25 (56-31).

It was only in the last six minutes that the Emilians loosened their grip on defense but still strung together their second consecutive victory after the one over Barcelona. Virtus’ best scorer Achille Polonara, 17 points più 9 rebounds, on the’other side useless the 20 points of Theo Maledon.

These are the words of Dusko Ivanovic at the end of the game: “I think my players played smartly, but especially aggressively on defense. We prepared the game well, they played well. In the last quarter we lost a little bit of concentration, but the important thing is that my players fought and enjoyed playing this game”.

“I think that is an important thing. When you play for Virtus you always have to think you can win every game, but that positive approach should never be lacking. Have fun and fight for the victory. Dusko effect? I have 12 excellent players on the bench, I have 2 others injured. They are also excellent. This è the secret”.

Died Daniele Bagnoli, one of the most successful coaches in Italian club volleyball

Mourning in Italian volleyball: è Daniele Bagnoli, one of the mostù winningest coaches in our home men’s league, died at age 71. Born in Mantua on October 25, 1953, Bagnoli wrote the history especially of the Modena and Treviso teams.

He shares with Franco Anderlini the record of 8 championships, 20 with Modena and 6 with Treviso, 7 Italian Cups, 3 with Modena and 4 with Treviso, 5 Italian Super Cups, all with Treviso. With Dinamo Moscow he also won a championship, a Russian Cup and a Russian Supercup.

In the international field, between the Champions Cup and Champions League he won 5, 2 with Modena and 3 with Treviso, 2 European Super Cups, one with the Emilians and one with the Venetians, a Cup Winners’ Cup with Modena and 2 CEV Cups with Treviso.

He has also been part of the technical staff of the Italian national teams, particularly the youth teams. With Russia, on the other hand, he won a third place in the 2009 World League.

Globe Soccer Awards, lifetime achievement award for Alex Del Piero

Alessandro Del Piero received the Lifetime Achievement Award during the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai.

The motivation for the award emphasized that Del Piero è was “an extraordinary athlete, World Cup winner and holder of national and European titles, a model of ethics on and off the field, a legend simply for wearing the shirt of the same team for almost 20 years in one of the most difficult leagues in the world.

Del Piero represents the best of Juventus and has played in four different stadiums in Turin during a career always at the highest level, moving from Delle Alpi, to the old Comunale, to the Olimpico and finally to Juventus Stadium, even accepting to stay with the club when it was in a lower division”.

“In the long history of Juventus,” the note continues, “Del Piero è on the same level as such extraordinary players as Platini, Paolo Rossi, Sivori and Boniperti. Its most famous president, the unforgettable Gianni Agnelli, called him Pinturicchio, extolling his genius and elegance on the field.