Virtus Europonteggi Bologna put a difficult week behind them in Italy and the EuroCup by completing a Group H double over Amsterdam Astronauts on Tuesday.

Guilherme Giovannoni, who shone for BC Kyiv last season and then played at the FIBA World Championship for Brazil, made five of six three-pointers (83.3%) on his way to 21 points as Virtus cruised 90-47.

Virtus have encountered some injury problems this season with Italian international Fabio Di Bella andd Andrea Michelori missing significant time, but their defeat at DTL EKA AEL Lemesos last week was a shocker, and they followed that up with a narrow setback against Montepaschi Siena to fall into second place in Lega A.

No one would have given Amsterdam much of a chance, however, after the first meeting between these two sides that was won 104-51 by Virtus.

On Tuesday, the Italian hosts stormed out to a 25-14 advantage by the end of the first quarter.

They then delivered a knockout punch before half-time when they led 49-26.
 
Zare Markovski, the Virtus coach, couldn't help but compare the contest to a training after proceedings.

"It was a good practice for us," he said.

"I had a chance to rest some players and give some minutes to players who usually don't play much.

"Everybody who was on the court did a good job and took the game seriously. Now we have to think already about the next game against (Armani Jeans) Milano and have to try to be better prepared."

Milano are Virtus' opponents in Lega A this weekend.

The decisive run in this game started with just under six minutes left in the first quarter.

Christian Drejer buried a three-pointer to spark a 12-0 surge which gave Virtus a 22-6 lead and they used that as a platform for victory.

Amsterdam, who have lost all four of their EuroCup games, were paced by William Chavis' 14 points.