Alessandro Pajola

Alessandro Pajola

No. 6–Virtus Bologna
Position	Point guard
League	LBA EuroLeague
Personal information
Born	(1999-11-09) 9 November 1999 (age 23) Ancona, Italy
Nationality	Italian
Listed height	1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Listed weight	95 kg (209 lb)
Career information
NBA draft	2021 / Undrafted
Playing career	2015–present
Career history
2015–present	Virtus Bologna
Career highlights and awards
EuroCup champion (2022) FIBA Champions League champion (2019) Italian League champion (2021) 2x Italian Supercup winner (2021, 2022) Italian Supercup MVP (2021) Italian 2nd Division champion (2017)
Medals Men’s Basketball Representing   Italy FIBA Under-19 World Cup 2017 Egypt U-19 National Team FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship 2016 Turkey U-18 National Team

Alessandro Pajola (born 9 November 1999) is an Italian professional basketball player for Virtus Bologna of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and the EuroLeague. He is also a member of the senior Italian national team. Standing at 1.94 m (6 ft 4+1⁄2 in), he plays at the point guard position. Pajola is widely known for his defensive ability. ^[1]

Professional career

Virtus Bologna (2015–present)

Pajola joined Virtus Bologna in 2015, becoming an important supporting cast player in 2016–17, when the club was in Serie A2. On 19 June 2017, the Black V won the playoffs, beating Trieste by 3–0, thus returning to the top series after only one year.

Pajola's importance in the team grown up season after season, becoming one of Virtus' most prominent player in 2020–21 season. In June 2021, after having knocked out 3–0 both Basket Treviso in the quarterfinals and New Basket Brindisi in the semifinals, on Virtus defeated 4–0 its historic rival Olimpia Milano in the national finals, winning its 16th national title and the first one after twenty years. ^[2]

On 21 September 2021, the team won its second Supercup, defeating once again Olimpia Milano 90–84. ^[3] After an outstanding game in the final, Pajola was named MVP of the tournament. ^[4] Moreover, after having ousted Lietkabelis, Ulm and Valencia in the first three rounds of the playoffs, on 11 May 2022, Virtus defeated Frutti Extra Bursaspor by 80–67 at the Segafredo Arena, winning its first EuroCup and qualifying for the EuroLeague after 14 years. ^[5] However, despite having ended the regular season at the first place and having ousted 3–0 both Pesaro and Tortona in the first two rounds of playoffs, Virtus was defeated 4–2 in the national finals by Olimpia Milan. ^[6]

On 29 September 2022, after having ousted Milano in the semifinals, Virtus won its third Supercup, defeating 72–69 Banco di Sardegna Sassari and achieving a back-to-back, following the 2021 trophy. ^[7] On May 10, 2023, Pajola renewed his contract with Virtus through 2026.

Career statistics

Italian Championship

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG	PIR
2015–16	Virtus Bologna	2	0	1.0	.000	.000	.000	.0	.0	.0	.0	.0	.0
2016–17	Virtus Bologna	24	0	9.9	.413	.364	.500	1.2	.6	.5	.0	2.3	1.5
2017–18	Virtus Bologna	17	2	11.9	.450	.250	.600	1.1	.8	.6	.0	1.6	1.9
2018–19	Virtus Bologna	27	0	11.7	.282	.286	.571	1.1	1.0	.7	.1	1.3	.7
2019–20	Virtus Bologna	20	1	12.2	.465	.313	.722	1.6	1.5	.8	.1	3.1	4.6

References

1. Pajola: "Gioco per la squadra, la difesa per generare buoni attacchi", Tutto Bologna Web
2. Virtus, sei magnifica! Bologna, scudetto dopo 20 anni, Milano schiacciata 4-0, Gazzetta dello Sport
3. Basket, la Virtus Bologna vince la Supercoppa: Milano ancora ko, la Repubblica
4. Alessandro Pajola è l’mvp della Supercoppa Discovery+ 2021, Sportando
5. "Game Night: Virtus is the 7DAYS EuroCup champion and headed back to the EuroLeague!". euroleaguebasketball.net. 11 May 2022.
6. "Olimpia Milano campione d'Italia, Virtus Bologna ko 81-64 in gara-6". Sky Sport. 18 June 2022.
7. "Supercoppa, trionfa la Virtus Bologna! Canestro decisivo di Mickey, Sassari cede 72-69". Gazzetta dello Sport. 29 September 2022.