By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Sinking 18/34 three-pointers for a new club record, Virtus Bologna bounced back from three straight losses on the road to beat Anadolu Efes, 99-89, in PalaDozza on Tuesday.
Carsen Edwards went for a team-high 21 points with 8/14 field goals, including five triples. Luca Vildoza added 11 points to go with seven assists, five rebounds, and one steal.
Up to 4-0 at home, the Italian club jumped to 5-5 in the 2025-26 EuroLeague Regular Season. “We play at home much better, because we feel their love, energy,” mentioned Alen Smailagic, thanking the fans in a postgame interview, after tucking in 5/7 from beyond the arc en route to 17 points.
“We enjoy playing basketball here. I think tonight we won with our offense. Except for the last quarter, we played a little better defense,” added head coach Dusko Ivanovic.
“They made tough shots, tough threes. Our three-point defending line was not really there. They made a lot of threes, some lucky ones, so God was not with us tonight,” reacted losing play-caller Igor Kokoskov.
Despite Shane Larkin connecting five triples in a total of 25 points, logging his eighth consecutive continental outing with at least two three-pointers, the visitors fell to 3-7 with a third loss in a row. The Efes captain had 14 points at the break, but team defense fell short once more.
Returning to Bologna after four hugely successful campaigns, Isaia Cordinier went for four points, four rebounds, two steals, two blocks, and two assists.
Besides Abramo Canka (right ankle sprain) on the injury list, Leo Menalo and Nicola Akele were healthy scratches for the hosts. On the opposite side, PJ Dozier Jr. (right thigh tear), Rodrigue Beaubois (left elbow surgery), Giorgos Papagiannis (left knee surgery), and Vincent Poirier (knee surgery) were ruled out for the Round 10 contest, alongside Burak Can Yildizli.
At the bottom half of the double-game week, Efes hosts FC Bayern Munich in Antalya Sports Hall and Vu Nere visits FC Barcelona’s Palau Blaugrana on Friday.