Awudu Abass expected to play his first official game after a 16-month setback / News - Basketnews.com

Awudu Abass, who had been out for a year and a half due to two consecutive injuries on the same knee, is expected to return to action this Sunday.

Credit: BNS Credit BNS

On 27 September 2021,Virtus Segadredo Bologna announced that forward Awudu Abasshad suffered a tear to the anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee.

Awudu Abass

Team:Virtus Segafredo BolognaPosition:SF, SGAge:30Height:198 cmWeight:100 kgBirth place:ItalyProfileNewsStatistics

Abass suffered the injury in the first game of the Italian Serie A, in which Virtus won against Aquila Basket Trento. The Italian forward joined Virtus in 2020-2021 and won the Serie A title under coach Djordjevic.

Almost a full year later, in late September 2022, the EuroCup champs announced that arthroscopy had been performed on the player's right knee and that he would begin the rehabilitation process once again in order to be re-evaluated in 90 days. In the meantime, Abass had returned to action in a friendly game against Venezia in Cavallino, but suffered another injury.

The player's condition deteriorated due to an osteochondral injury without serious involvement of the cruciate ligament, which in any case required a new operation.

Now, after another four long months, Abass is finally ready to return, and this Sunday, he should join his Virtus teammates in the Serie A fixture against Verona, as Corriere di Bologna and Stadio reported.

The 30-year-old from Como has resumed practicing with his teammates over the last few days, progressively increasing the workload.

In the summer of 2021, he extended his contract with the black and white team until 2024, adding another year to the previous deal, which was set to expire in 2023.

Abass was also a part of the Italian NT during the Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, but after the tournament, coach Sacchetti decided not to bring him to Tokyo, replacing him with NBA star Danilo Gallinari.

Throughout his EuroCup career, Abass has averaged 7.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assist for 7.5 PIR. In the EuroLeague, he has compiled 35 games with two teams (Cantu, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan), holding a career average of 3.5 points and 1.9 rebounds.

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