The confirmed Hill did not return from America, where he signed for Indiana, restarting an NBA career that would last for a few years with good results. At Virtus no one is despairing, after all the opportunity is favorable to promote head coach Ettore Messina. The new coach, after a successful activity in the youth team, combined with the role of deputy, alongside Bucci, Gamba, Cosic and Hill himself, is ready for the big leap. He gets younger on the bench, but also on the pitch. Villalta, the captain, after thirteen seasons, after 9048 points in black and white, after three championships and two Italian cups returns to his native lands, settling in Treviso.
Number 10 shirt retired
Villalta’s number 10 jersey is the first retired jersey in the history of the Black Vs. Another piece of history is gone, Bonamico. Raised in Virtus, with Juventus since 1972/73, with a few stints around Italy, but protagonist of successes in two Italian Cups and two championships. No European triumph for them, although both came very close in the Cup Winners’ Cup and European Cup finals. However, with their decisive contribution in the recent victory in the Italian Cup, they opened the doors of the Cup Winners’ Cup to Virtus, which will prove to be important. Bonamico takes the road to Forlì, where Lauro Bon arrives, with the reputation of a great marksman. From Desio, after growing up in the Mestre youth teams, comes Claudio Coldebella, a promising playmaker.
Amazing virtue in the Cups
The official season begins with the Italian Cup (in the group with equal victories and points difference with Fabriano, Bologna passes for better total points difference). Even in the championship and Cup Winners’ Cup things are going well and the crucial moment comes in February: on the 11th Virtus beats the league leaders Varese 90-89, three days later they repeat the success in the semi-final of the Italian Cup Final Four in Forlì, on the 15th they win the final against Messaggero, on the 18th they win in Milan and on the 20th they give 20 points to Paok with an amazing final five minutes in the Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final. Ten days and 5 victories of great specific weight. In Thessaloniki, Virtus, with a great Sugar, contains the Greeks and goes to the final.
The exodus to Florence for the Cup Winners’ Cup final
On March 13th there is the exodus to Florence, Virtus beats Real Madrid who tragically lost Fernando Martin in December, then the naturalized Russian Biriukov is missing due to injury. Real Madrid, however, are always the trophy holders and have a very rich trophy cabinet. Virtus with a great Richardson and a superlative Coldebella, when Brunamonti had to come out at the start of the second half, won 79-74. The black Vs put the first European laurel on the board. The captain’s injury unfortunately affects the championship.
In the championship, Virtus paid for Brunamonti’s injury
Virtus only finishes fifth after having always been in better positions and, after eliminating Trieste, they face Caserta in the semi-finals. Having lost game one, Bologna drew with 46 points from Sugar and in game three, in which Brunamonti certainly wasn’t at his best, the Black Vs lost in extra time but with many recriminations. However, it ends with two trophies, for the second time in history. The cadet title also arrives.
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