Alex Mumbrù is baffled by the infamous call: “Things like this shouldn’t happen at this level”

Alex Mumbrù commented on Virtus Bologna’s 87-85 loss to Olimpia Milano, starting with the incident that sparked the most debate in the final moments of the game. In the closing seconds, a whistle caused several players to stop the play, while Milan continued to play and hit a crucial three-pointer. Mumbrù expressed his confusion over the incident, though he clarified that it wasn’t the reason for the loss.

“Congratulations to Milan—it was a tough game for everyone. Sometimes basketball is like that; in the final moments, there can be good calls or bad ones. But I can’t understand how, at this level—in the EuroLeague, in the final minute of a major game at the highest level—someone can blow the whistle and everyone stops. Milan hit a crucial three-pointer, and everyone had stopped. I don’t understand how that’s possible. We didn’t lose because of that; that’s clear. Congratulations to Milan. But I can’t believe things like this happen at this level.”

Beyond the controversial incident, the Virtus coach focused on his team’s performance, noting that they stayed in the game until the very last possession despite some defensive struggles in the first half. “Otherwise, we played until the very end. In the first half, we didn’t always play well on defense, but then we managed to get back into it. Down the stretch, there were some good plays and some not-so-good ones—in the end, Milan won. And after three road games, we want to get back to playing in front of our fans. I’m expecting a great atmosphere.”

Mumbrù then addressed the topic of the team’s development once again. After noting, following the game against Varese, that Virtus was still operating at 60% of its potential, the coach emphasized how the inexperience of part of the roster makes it difficult to determine exactly how far they are from their best possible form. “After Varese, I said we’re at 60%. Obviously, the inexperience in our roster makes it hard to gauge exactly how close we are to 100%. I’m not worried about this process; I’m just disappointed about tonight’s loss. We need to try to improve in the closing minutes and make better decisions.”

The Spanish coach also highlighted Virtus’s ability to stay mentally focused during the toughest moments. “Especially in the first half, when we were struggling, we kept playing. When I arrived, I said that the fans should be proud of the fact that we always fight on the court. Then there are certainly areas for improvement, especially down the stretch.”

Finally, Mumbrù focused on the difference in experience between the two teams, pointing to this very aspect as one of the areas Bologna will need to work on over the course of the season. “Milan has many players with extensive EuroLeague experience; we have a lot of rookies. We know there’s a price to pay early on, and plenty of room for improvement. There are steps we need to take to improve, and I’m sure we’ll do it. I’m proud of how the team fought until the very last minute.”