The virtually unstoppable Virtus Bologna wins again
For obvious reasons, it’s far too early to crown Virtus Bologna as Lords of the Italian Serie A. However, given their impressive 9-0 start in domestic action and 6-1 group stage performance in the 7Days EuroCup, it’s hard not to extoll of their promise and potential for the 2019-20 season.
They are head and shoulders ahead of the competition, with Enel Brindisi and Banco di Sardegna Sassari a clear two games behind them with 6-2 records. Bologna is not only winning, but they’re also doing it convincingly and with an air of confidence exuded only by championship-caliber teams.
On Sunday, they grabbed their ninth straight win of the season in the Italian Serie A, on the road no less, beating Trieste 85-89.
What is their secret sauce, that makes them such a formidable team this season? That’s simply answered with two words. Milos. Teodosic. The veteran Serbian guard has been nothing short of phenomenal this season. As long as he can stay away from any sort of injury, the Bolognese club should remain nigh-unstoppable.
This game was no exception. Teodosic paced his team with a game-high 24 points, thanks in part to him making 5-of-10 shots from behind the 3-point arc. He also shared the rock, dishing out a team-high five assists, involving the likes of Julian Gamble in the action. Gamble shined through with a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double to firmly complement his point guard’s production that evening.
Jon Elmore led Trieste with 20 points.
Who can take them down? Is Virtus Bologna simply that unbeatable? Well, whatever the chink in their armor is, no team in the Serie A has managed to exploit it to a degree that has slowed Bologna’s win streak.
If the playoffs were held next week, they’d likely bag the championship in easy fashion. However, there’s still a lot of basketball left to play in the 2019-20 season and as we all know, anything can happen. One thing’s for sure, they soar while Teodosic is able to be the wind beneath their wings. He’s no longer a young buck and may have to be rested at some point. Then and only then, will their mettle be truly tested – to win a game with their star player on the sidelines.