Bologna, March 20 –
The European adventure of Virtus Segafredo Bologna U18 will kick off on Friday, March 22.
The selection coached by V Nere Youth Sector Technical Manager Mattia Largo will make its debut in Dubai. Placed in Group B of the tournament, the bianconeri will take to the parquet of the Coca-Cola Arena to face Zalgiris Kaunas on the first day, Next Generation Team Dubai and Valencia Basket on Saturday, March 23. On Sunday, March 24, the finals that will give access to the Final Four, which will be held in parallel with the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four scheduled in Berlin.
This season is the 21st edition of the annual event, which includes clubs and academies representing 11 different countries. The Under-18 teams come from 15 clubs from the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and eight from the BKT EuroCup, as well as five invited clubs and the Next Generation Teams.
“We are thrilled to see our U18 participate in this prestigious competition,” says Virtus Segafredo Bologna CEO Luca Baraldi, “Competing against some of the best players of their age from all over Europe is a great opportunity for our young talents. We want to thank Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the organizers for inviting us. We firmly believe that this experience can be crucial for the growth and development of our athletes.”
“It is the right recognition,” comments Mattia Largo Technical Manager of the Virtussino Youth Sector, “for what the boys are constantly doing and what the club does for us. At the European level, Virtus is doing a fundamental job for the whole system and it is right that the youth sector also returns to compete at what is the highest possible level. We will be confronted with a totally different technical and physical aspect than in the National Championship, an important opportunity for growth.”
ROSTER E STAFF U18 VIRTUS SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA:
| Number | Name | Posizione |
| #6 | Edoardo Berlati | PG |
| #12 | Lorenzo Baruffaldi | G |
| #13 | Matteo Boggian | PG |
| #17 | Mattia Guidotti | A |
| #18 | Federico Soli | G |
| #19 | Giacomo Donati | A |
| #20 | Matteo Accorsi | G |
| #21 | Matteo Baiocchi | P |
| #22 | Riccardo Vandini | P |
| #23 | Stefano Maurizzi | A |
| #25 | Davide Ligabue | A |
| #27 | Riccardo Dalla Cia*(on loan from Rucker San Vendemiano) | C |
| #28 | Matteo Lenci* (on loan from Basketball Club Lucca) | P |
| Role | Name |
| Head Coach | Mattia Largo |
| Assistant Coach | Riccardo Pezzoli |
| Physio | Andrea Nobili |
| Team Manager | Gabriele Pagliara |
| Club Manager | Miro De Giuli |
NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT 2024:
- Winner of the Podgorica Tournament played Jan. 26-28: U18 Real Madrid.
- Winner of the Belgrade Tournament played from March 01 to 03: U18 FC Barcelona.
- Dubai Tournament held March 22-24:
Group A, U18 Dubai Falcons Basketball Academy, U18 Aris Midea Thessaloniki, U18 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, U18 Ratiopharm Ulm.
Group B, U18 Virtus Segafredo Bologna, U18 Zalgiris Kaunas, U18 Valencia Basket and NGT Dubai.
- Paris Tournament April 05 to 07:
U18 Joventut Badalona, Olympiacos Pireus, Panathinaikos, AKTOR Athens, Gran Canaria, AS Monaco, NGT Paris Team, Paris Basketball, Pole France INSEP Paris.
