Second stage of Europa cup in basketball is starting bringing us very interesting group E game between Partizan Belgrade and Virtus Bologna. Group E constitute of Partizan Belgrade (Serbia), Darushafaka (Turkey), Virtus Bologna (Italy) and Trento (Italy). Game will start tomorrow on 08. January in 20 o'clock in front probably sold out basketball hall.

Partizan Belgrade

Partizan Belgrade is well known name in European basketball. Club was once winner of Cup of Champions, couple of times winner of former International cup called "Cup of Radivoj Korac" and was participant in final four of Euro League 3-4 times. Some of ex Partizan players are even members of Hall of Fame for basketball in USA. Older players like: Dragan Kicanovic, Drazen Dalipagic with last accepted member and well known ex LA Lakers and Sacramento Kings center Vlade Divac. He is now one of directors in Sacramento. Some other well known and famous names are: Aleksandar Djordjevic, Predrag Danilovic, Zarko Paspalj etc...

Club is going through hard times these years because of big tax debt toward state of Serbia which is not forgiving this club single cent. It looks however that club finally rised up again and has really competitive squad this season. Partizan sits on top of ABA league with 3 defeats this season. Club was very good in Europa cup too. With uncertainty will winner of "ABA league" have place in Eurleague next year winning of Europa cup is seen in Partizan like ticket for Euroleague next year. Ambitions of club are no less than winning Europa Cup. Coach Andrea Trinkieri is very serious.

Partizan rooster this season is on bellow picture. Club is hunting for big name on center position which is marked like place where club should dominate others. Veteran Novica Velickovic skipper of club should get some help on this position.

Virtus Bologna

Bologna is in great form too. They sit on top of Italian league with only 2 defeats this season. Ex Partizan legend and scorer of legendary basket in last second in final in Istanbul 1992 where Partizan won Huventud, Aleksandar Djordjevic is now on bench of Bologna. His ambition is sure no less than winning of Europa cup too. His success with Serbian basketball national team are legendary. He won few silver medals with Serbia including silver from Olimpic games where NBA players from USA were to strong for us in final. 

Roster of club is bellow:

Famous name in this squad is of course Milos Teodosic, very good Serbian play maker who was injured during recent World Cup. Very experienced team with main players in 30-ies or close to them.

What is waiting Virtus Bologna in Belgrade is hot as hell atmosphere, full hall of angry Partizan supporters hungry for winning. It's not going to be easy for them. Booing and whistling will be all the time when they go to attack. Two clubs have long history. During winning road to Istanbul in 1992 Partizan with Predrag Danilovic and Sasa Djordjevic won Kinder Bologna (that is same team as far as I know). In later clashes Bologna was better. I looked one live when Danilovic played for Italians and made fun of Partizan players in Belgrade game which they won with catastrophic high result. He was so good that he provoked me to ask him to let Partizan score few baskets from terraces. :) However that year Partizan went on final four in Barcelona too, but suffered defeat in semi-final. It looks like when Partizan face Bologna black and white from Serbia go to final stages of competition. I hope that is going to be the case this season too.

Funny thing is that Bologna is Italian club with 3 Serbian players and Partizan legend as coach, while Partizan Belgrade Serbian club has Italian Trinkieri for coach. It is going to be most likely battle between Americans playing for both sides because they are main players. If you can and have possibility watch that game tomorrow at 20 o'clock Central European Time. It is going to be spectacle on second day of Eastern Ortodox Christmas.