Half of Olimpia Milan's team have missed practices due to an illness / News - Basketnews.com

Nicolo Melli will not play against Virtus while Shabazz Napier is questionable. Besides them, five other players have missed at least some of the practices this week due to flu-like symptoms.

Credit: Giuseppe Cottini/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Giuseppe Cottini/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Worrisome news hit EA7 Emporio Armani Milan fans ahead of the EuroLeague derby against Virtus Segafredo Bologna on Thursday.

According to the team's official announcement, seven different players have been hit with flu-like symptoms recently.

Besides the already injured Paul Biligha, Stefano Tonut, Davide Alviti, Brandon Davies, Johannes Voigtmann, Kevin Pangos, Shabazz Napier, and Nicolo Melli had to sit out at least some practices due to illness this week.

While the occurrence of the illness was detected in the majority of the players earlier and they should be good to go, Napier and Melli joined the ranks only today. The team notes that only the guard has a chance to play in the upcoming match.

"This is a game between two teams who wanted to play for a playoff berth and hoped to have a chance to qualify right through this game. Unfortunately, it's been a tough season but we want to finish it on a high note and play one more good game, mostly to get prepared for the Italian league playoffs," head coach Ettore Messina said ahead of the matchup.

With 15 wins and 18 losses, Milan have a remote chance of finishing the season in 10th place at best. Most likely, the team will end up placing 12th.

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