After collapsing late in its season opener at home, days before learning that a key new player required surgery for a tumor, Virtus Segafredo Bologna could have descended into negativism. Instead, Virtus came together around the iron will and positivity of veteran Tornike Shengelia, Euroleague Basketball’s choice as MVP for October 2023, to become the biggest early-season surprise in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings.
Remarkably, Virtus held leads for all except one possession over the next three games and capped off the month with a thrilling road victory to finish October sharing second place at 4-1. Shengelia was nothing short of excellent the whole time, posting the EuroLeague’s highest accumulated performance index rating and second-best point total so far, making him a resounding choice to open the MVP of the Month award’s 19th season.
The winner of MVP of the Month award is named by Euroleague Basketball based on his and his team’s performance during the month in question. The award for October was based on the five games that most teams played during the month. This marks the second time that Shengelia has been honored as MVP of the Month. His first such award came in March of 2018 while playing for Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz.
