Spectacular Teodosic brings Virtus EuroCup title and ticket to EuroLeague / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Luca Sgamellotti/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Luca Sgamellotti/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Virtus Segafredo Bolognawere crowned as new 7DAYS EuroCup champions by downingFrutti Extra Bursaspor,80-67(25-12, 16-19, 21-22, 18-14).

Player of the Game EFF 16 Kyle Weems Points 13 Accuracy 4-10 Rebounds 4 Assists 2

With this win, Virtus got a ticket to the 2022-23 EuroLeague season. They will come back to the strongest continental league after a 14-year break.

Virtus not only won the EuroCup competition for the first time in the club's history but also became the first squad in Italy to do so.

Derek Needham and Onuralp Bitim extended the successful Bursa's stretch, which started at the end of the third quarter, and Turks were only down by 5 (59-64) with 8 minutes to go in the game.

Though, Mam Jaiteh and Toko Shengelia let Virtus' fans breathe easier with a couple of buckets in a row (70-60). Both clubs were trading baskets, while Mam Jaiteh and Milos Teodosic organized a crucial 5-0 run with 1:36 to go. Virtus got a stop on the other end and sealed the deal.

Teodosic was outstanding for the winners, accumulating 21 points (4/4 2PT, 4/8 3PT, 1/2 FT), 1 rebound, 3 assists, 5 turnovers, and 15 PIR. The ball magician from Serbia became EuroCup's final MVP.

"It was a really, really great competition, this EuroCup basketball level was so high. So many great teams didn't make it and we hanged in when we had to with a lot of injuries in the first part of the season, but we built up our chemistry, our cohesiveness and we finally got healthy and put a couple of new players in I think we had a great last three months of the competition and we honestly deserved the trophy," commented Sergio Scariolo post-game.

Kevarrius Hayes was a top performer for Bursa, posting 11 points (4/5 2PT, 3/5 FT), 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 20 PIR.

3-pointers this season

34%8,1Points made:8,1Accuracy:33,7%Place in standings:15Record max:17Record min:2Most made 3FGs:Milos TeodosicTeamEuroCupStatisticsSchedule

"Not disappointed. I am very proud and happy. I am glad to work with players like this. I am not disappointed. We played well. We fought. It was difficult to play like this without TG. And congrats to the coach and their team, organization, GM, and everybody in Virtus for a well-deserved EuroCup championship and good luck in the EuroLeague next season. They deserve it," spoke Dusan Alimpijevic after the final whistle.

Powered by Milos Teodosic, Virtus organized a 9-0 run in the mid-first quarter and gained a tangible advantage (16-7). Even though Bursa came within 6 (12-18), Marco Belinelli took over the flag from Teodosic.

The Italian veteran poured in 7 points, Virtus closed the first half with a 7-0 spurt, and had a 13-point cushion (25-12) after 10 playing minutes. Virtus' lead grew up to 15 points (40-25) in the second tally but John Holland and David Dudzinski made the overall picture look better for Bursa at halftime (31-41).

Bursa managed to return to the fighting distance once more in the third quarter. After an 8-0 run, Dusan Alimpijevic's men cut their deficit to 7 points (43-50). However, Virtus had an immediate response. Milos Teodosic drained a couple of straight triples and the Italian club had plus 15 (58-43).

Nevertheless, John Holland and Onuralp Bitim brought the intrigue back (53-62) before the last 10 minutes of the game.

Virtus: Milos Teodosic 21, Mam Jaiteh 13 (10 REB), Kyle Weems 13, Marco Belinelli 12 JaKarr Sampson 11 (5 REB).

Bursaspor: David Dudzinski 14 (7 REB), Onuralp Bitim 12 (5 REB), Kevarrius Hayes 11 (6 REB), Derek Needham 11, John Holland 10.

Highlights

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