Georgian basketball player Tornike Shengelia has replaced the Euroleague club Moscow CSKA with the Italian champion Bologna “Virtus” after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the websites of both clubs reported on Monday.
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It has already been reported that Shengelia is about to leave CSKA in protest of Russia’s war in Ukraine. In addition, CSKA’s participation in the Euroleague has ended this season due to sanctions.
“Striker Shengelia and our club have reached an agreement to break the contract after the basketball player’s election,” the CSKA website said.
In less than two seasons, the Georgian player in the CSKA ranks played 52 games in the Euroleague, scoring an average of 11.7 points per game, winning 4.9 rebounds, passing 2.3 times, as well as 35 games in the United League (13.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists).
During this time, the Georgian player from time to time became the champion of the United League and Russia, was elected to the top five of the United League Star Game and was twice named the most valuable player of the Euroleague round.
“It’s unfortunate that my reason for leaving is not basketball, but I have to make a choice in my life, and I made it.
Also on Monday, the Italian club welcomed the basketball players to their new job.
“Virtus announces that it has reached an agreement with Schengen by June 30, 2022,” the club said on its website.
CSKA is currently in second place in the United League with 11 wins in 14 games, but “Virtus” is in second place in the Italian championship with 16 wins in 19 matches, behind the Euroleague club Milan “AX Armani Exchange Olimpia”.
The captain of the Georgian national team signed a three-year contract with CSKA in 2020 after playing for six years in the ranks of “Bitci Baskonia” in Vitoria, which is now represented by Latvian basketball player Artūrs Kurucs.
The 30-year-old has averaged 12.7 points per game in 15 Euroleague games this season, won 4.7 rebounds, played 2.5 games and scored an efficiency of 14.1.
