Virtus trouble: Derrick Alston Jr.’s return is an'unknown

Although smiling for the good start of the series with Trento, Virtus Bologna has to deal with a major knockout, that of Derrick Alston Jr. The response of the examinations carried out in the aftermath of game-1 of the quarterfinals is merciless: there is a fracture in his hand, the recovery time represents a heavy unknown for the continuation of the Scudetto playoffs.

Confirming the severity of the injury was the Bologna club itself: “Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna informs that, as a result of the contusive trauma suffered in yesterday’s game against Trento, Derrick Alston jr has suffered a decomposed fracture of the third metacarpal of the left hand. The therapeutic procedure will be defined in the next few days.”

A class of 1997, son of art (dad Derrick sr played in the NBA and in Europe, winning a Turkish championship with Efes and twice the Liga ACB, with Manresa and Barcelona), Derrick Alston jr arrived in Bologna on the eve of this season, after his experience in Spain at Manresa. He also previously wore the undershirts of Rostock Seawolves in Germany and Salt Lake City Stars in the G League.

This season with Virtus, Alston jr scored 12.6 points on average, averaging 57.4% from two and 42.4% from distance. Against Trento, in game-1 of the quarters, he had put up 21 points in 19 minutes, also adding two rebounds and as many assists and being the best of his team in terms of rating (24).