Tornike Shengelia discussed a difficult comeback after the ulcer, Dusko Ivanovic bringing energy to Virtus, and the Italian team's struggles this season. He also briefly talked about the upcoming free agency period and confirmed his participation in February's FIBA window.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna power forward Tornike Shengelia made his long-awaited return to EuroLeague action on Wednesday night in Kaunas after spending 34 days sidelined with an ulcer.
| Player of the Game | |
|
EFF
21
|
| Sylvain Francisco | |
| Points | 20 |
| Accuracy | 7-10 |
| Rebounds | 3 |
| Assists | 4 |
He checked into the Round 21 matchup against Zalgiris with 5:32 left in the first quarter but quickly returned to the bench just two minutes later, clearly needing time to adjust to the game's intensity after his layoff.
"I feel OK, man," Shengelia told me after the game. "I mean, still not at my best. I just had one full practice with the team yesterday [on Tuesday], and today I came to play, so I'm still not there. I try to help the team as much as I can."
Shengelia remains a cornerstone for Virtus, leading the team in scoring (15.2 points, 12th in the league), rebounding (5.6, 12th), and efficiency (15.7 PIR, 17th).
But as for his future? That's still up in the air.
Last summer, Virtus CEO Luca Baraldi hinted at a multi-year extension, but Shengelia ended up signing a deal that keeps him in Bologna only through the summer of 2025.
Speaking of the upcoming free agency, Shengelia thinks
