Bologna –
All it took to choose Segafredo at the end of the day was little: a competitive group, a wide range of quality competition, the chance to return to that Euroleague already faced in Villeurbanne and perhaps the direct memory of the 2019 Antwerp Final Four, when Virtus lifted the Champions League to the sky. Ismaël Bako arrives in Bologna bringing as a dowry the ability to be a dynamic center with long arms (220 centimeters wingspan) at ease on the pick-and-roll, both offensively and defensively, with the rare virtue of being a long shot accurate on the shot clock, over 81% in the last four years. A Belgian from Leuven, his 208 centimeters for 95 pounds favors substance over form, especially with the alley oop, a practice much used in a Virtus with thick directors. Coach Scariolo, who also saw him up close at the last European Championship, where he finished with nearly 6 points and 5 rebounds in 22 minutes per contest, will be in fond anticipation of this by relying on his verticality, adept at receiving the pass dynamically, starting with contact the attack on the direct scorer and with good room for improvement when called upon to build his shot. His swags come mostly from offensive rebounds or pick and rolls, with quick legs and effective lateral movement allowing him to take care of opposing strong wings as well. Good feel for rebounds as well, both offensively and defensively, playing more on timing than shoving. With him the Virtus Segafredo area will be able to find in traffic not only a new friendly hand but the pincer of a long man who on the run can tame the ball and throw it in.
