Clash of the Titans for Strautins; Jogela Is the Alternative

Derthona Basket’s transfer market remains particularly active at the forward positions, where the priority is to find a replacement for Arturs Strautins, a player who continues to attract interest from several clubs, including Basket Club Roma and Virtus Bologna. Also in the mix is Reyer, the Italian runner-up.

Among the players under consideration by the Piedmontese management is Matas Jogela, a Lithuanian forward born in 1998 who is coming off a successful stint with Dolomiti Energia Trento. The player is one of the most sought-after names on the market, and the Trentino club is working to try to retain him, despite particularly fierce competition.

In fact, several foreign clubs from top-tier leagues—such as those in Lithuania, Greece, and Turkey—have made moves for Jogela. Among the clubs most interested is Tofas Bursa, which is closely monitoring how the situation unfolds. This significant competition makes any potential move by Derthona far from straightforward.

As for Strautins, the situation has now been definitively clarified: the player has decided to exercise the buyout clause in his contract, ending his tenure with Bertram after three seasons and 96 official appearances across the league and European competitions, during which he scored a total of 892 points. This departure has come as something of a surprise to the basketball community, considering that just two years ago, President Marco Picchi had enthusiastically announced the renewal of his contract through June 30, 2027, describing the Latvian-born, Italian-trained player as an integral part of the core around which the club’s future would be built. As for his next destination, the race appears to be between Virtus Bologna and Basket Roma, with the Rome-based club holding a clear advantage, though a move to Venice cannot be ruled out.