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oct 16 2026Velimir Perasovic's first game in his fourth stint with Kosner Baskonia started with a 12-0 deficit and ended in an 86-78 loss in Bologna. A 17-point comeback brought Vitoria-Gasteiz level at 74 in the 37th minute, but Jaume Mumbrú's Virtus prevailed, extending their EuroLeague winning streak to four games and cementing their status as one of the season's surprises.
Five minutes without scoring
The start was the worst possible scenario. Overwhelmed by Italian defensive pressure, Baskonia turned the ball over repeatedly, found no clear shots, and took more than five minutes to get on the board. Perasovic called timeout immediately, but couldn't stop the bleeding. Aliou Diarra dominated in the paint until fouls sent him to the bench. The first quarter ended 24-12.
Baskonia recovered in the second quarter with better pace and more paint presence, playing evenly (22-22). Marcus Carr ensured the gap didn't shrink, and Virtus went into halftime leading 46-34. The visitors had made just 4 of their 20 three-pointers.
From 57-40 to 74-74
After the break, Carr and Derrick Alston Jr. pushed the lead to 57-40. Perasovic made substitutions and gave the ball to Matteo Spagnolo. With DJ Stewart as the primary offensive weapon and an improved Baugh, Baskonia began chipping away from the 68-53 deficit that ended the third quarter.
Virtus stalled offensively and Baskonia capitalized. A three-pointer by Sedekerskis made it 71-67 in the 35th minute, and Kenneth Faried capped a 6-21 run with the tying basket at 74 in the 37th minute. It was time to finish, but Baskonia ran out of gas. Virtus regained defensive intensity and Moore stepped up offensively in a 10-0 run that sealed the game.
Read also:
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- Wilbekin Punishes Three-Point-Less Baskonia (84-92)
- EuroLeague Matchday 4 Recap: Valencia Keeps Pace with Panathinaikos
Contrasting trajectories
Carr, with 20 points, and Diarra, with 16, led Virtus to a 4-2 record just two days after winning in Paris. Baskonia, meanwhile, is sinking with a 1-5 mark and five consecutive losses. AJ Lawson, with 13 points, and Stewart, with 12, were their leading scorers, while Frisch returned after several games out. The picture is very different in the Liga Endesa, where the Vitoria team is co-leader undefeated. Their next game is on the road at La Laguna Tenerife.
