Virtus Bologna, Luca Banchi gets a pebble off his shoe

Virtus Bologna, along with Milan, è one of the favorites to win the Italian Cup

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The Final Eight of the Italian Cup begins today in Turin. Obviously, the two favorites are Olimpia Milano and Virtus Bologna. The V Nere, with the arrival on the bench of coach Banchi, are having a truly excellent season, both between national borders and, above all, in the Euroleague. The former Olimpia Milano coach is enjoying the moment but does not forget the many doubts when he è was chosen to take the place of coach Scariolo in Bologna.

"When Virtus called me, I had been out of the Euroleague for six years, my name no longer warmed anyone. They said, but does Banchi really go after Scariolo? I tour the cities and I feel affection for what we are doing in Europe: today we are the symbol of Italian basketball, where we play the arenas are filled, we represent the desire to have a club at the top of the Euroleague, beyond the bell towers,” his words in the Corriere di Bologna.

Very good in the Euroleague but now coach Banchi è focused on the Italian Cup. Virtus Bologna has won it eight times, just like Milan: "Pressures?  No because we carry with us the value of five months lived together. The team è is aware that we play to win: è a special tournament, we are nourished by victories every 24 hours", the remark of coach Banchi himself.