The new season is upcoming and the supporters had the first chance to meet the players of Cantu yesterday during the team uninformal meeting in Cantu. The official presentation will be held in a couple of weeks as the team is still missing five players that are currently playing for their national teams in the eurobasket qualifying round. They are Marco Cusin and Pietro Aradori (Italy), Manuchar Markoishvili (Georgia), Johnatan Tabu (Belgium) and Alex Tyus (Israel).
I was there and had an interesting talk with Maarten Leunen (206-F-85, college: Oregon), at his fourth season with the team, who's looking ahead to the Euroleague qualifying round and is ready to welcome all of the new guys that joined the team for the first time yesterday.
For the first time in the last three seasons there were a lot of changes in the roster this year. It seems it is going to be a very athletic team a little bit less technical than before. Do you agree? Well, no question. Last year we had a lot of european players and we had Vladimir (Micov) who's not so athletic and we're kind of replacing those type of players with young and athletic players and it's going to be interesting just because our style of play has always been kind of slow it down, run half court offense, while this year we might get out and run in transition, it might be a different style of play.
It will take a little time to build a good team chemistry as many players don't know each others yet... Yes, for sure, but I think I'll be a big part just because I've been with this coach for three years, I understand his system and I'm pretty sure that he'll fit me in into the pieces where I can get guys in spots that they need to. Moreover some of the key pieces will remain. We got Manu (Markoishvili), then Tabu is coming back and all of the other guys from last season are players that understand what the coach wants.
You had your first Euroleague experience last season. We saw that this competition gave great satisfactions but in the meantime the team paid a lack of energy in some league games. It's great to have the chance to enter the competition qualifying round and try to make it to the regular season again. Will this be a good chance to be taken and a primary goal? Yes, that's our goal number one, at least for me is to get back in the euroleague. I think it's very important for us, it's a great experience for us. I love competing at the highest level, so I'd love to play in the euroleague again. I'm trying to make that happen. I'm gonna tell all these younger guys that haven't experienced what euroleague is alike.
Talking about the league, it seems that the Siena era has ended and that Milano has become the top team in Italy. Which are your sensations about next season. Siena is a top team anyway because of their history and because they're bringing in great players, Milano defintively got a lot of talented players but I think next season will be everybody's opportunity because Siena no longer is the power they used to be. They still got great players but no longer do they have the core nucleus. So i think anyone has a chance next year, everybody has got a hope. Whoever comes in competing and comes in the best shape has a good chance of competing for the italian championship.
Do you think you can be helpful for the other guys from the US who came to Cantu recently? Yes, for sure. This is my fourth year in Cantu and the fifth in overseas basketball so I understand, specially throughout the italian league, what it takes to be at the top so I can just relay down to the other guys and hopefully we'll have a good year and will be competing for the italian championship
Lega2 Round 3 of Quarter-Finals. Trento and Brescia advance into semifinals - May 18, 2013
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LeGamberi FO - C.de Latte BRE 79-87
Brescia stole a road win over Forli to seal the semifinal appearance. LeGamberi Foods Forli was ahead by 3 points after three quarters before a 26-15 charge of C.de Latte BRE, which allowed them to win the game. They made 28-of-33 charity shots (84.8 percent) during the game. It was a great evening for American swingman J.R. Giddens (196-85, college: N.Mexico) who led his team to a victory scoring 22 points and 9 rebounds [read more]
Brescia stole a road win over Forli to seal the semifinal appearance. LeGamberi Foods Forli was ahead by 3 points after three quarters before a 26-15 charge of C.de Latte BRE, which allowed them to win the game. They made 28-of-33 charity shots (84.8 percent) during the game. It was a great evening for American swingman J.R. Giddens (196-85, college: N.Mexico) who led his team to a victory scoring 22 points and 9 rebounds. His fellow American import guard Michael Jenkins (191-86, college: Winthrop) helped adding 22 points and 6 rebounds. The best for the losing side was American swingman Terrence Roderick (196-88, college: UAB, agency: Interperformances) with 28 points and naturalized Argentinian guard Bernardo Musso (193-86) scored 13 points. Top scorers: C.de Latte BRE: M.Jenkins 22+6reb+1ast, J.Giddens 22+9reb, D.Brkic 18+5reb+1ast, F.Loschi 8+1reb, J.Fernandez 8+4reb+6ast, S.Stojkov 4+2ast LeGamberi FO: T.Roderick 28+4reb+1ast, B.Musso 13+4reb+1ast, A.Tessitori 9+2reb, B.Spencer 9+1reb, M.Soloperto 7+8reb+1ast, S.Borsato 7+1reb+3ast
Tezenis Verona cut the deficit in the series following a home win over Novipiu Casale. It looked good early as Novipiu Casale took an 6-point lead at the end of first quarter. But then Tezenis VE had a 29-14 second period charge getting the lead and Novipiu Casale was not able to take back game control losing it eventually 73-85. They outrebounded Novipiu Casale 38-26 including a 31-20 advantage in defensive rebounds. Tezenis VE shot the lights out from three nailing 14 long-distance shots on high 51.9 percentage. The best player for the winners was American point guard Richard McConnell (182-89, college: St.Mary's, CA, agency: Priority Sports) who scored 31 points. Nigerian-American power forward Olaseni Lawal (208-86, college: Wayne St., MI, agency: IBS) chipped in a double-double by scoring 10 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks. Lawal is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Four Tezenis VE players scored in double figures. Tezenis VE's coach Alessandro Ramagli allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. At the other side the best for losing team was American point guard Casper Ware (177-90, college: Long Beach St.) who recorded 21 points and the other American import swingman Rodney Green (195-88, college: La Salle) added 21 points respectively. Top scorers: Tezenis VE: R.McConnell 31+2reb+1ast, M.Da Ros 15+5reb, C.Westbrook 13+7reb+2ast, O.Lawal 10+12reb+2ast, D.Lauwers 8+3reb, G.Boscagin 5+4reb Novipiu Casale: C.Ware 21+4reb+1ast, R.Green 21+2reb+2ast, N.Martinoni 11+5reb, S.Pierich 9+5reb+1ast, G.Ferrero 5+4reb, P.Butkevicius 4+2reb
Trento cruised past Sigma Barcellona to sweep the quarterfinal series. The game was mostly controlled by Pall.Trento. Sigma Barcellona managed to win second period 26-21. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. 25 personal fouls committed by Sigma Barcellona helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a good game for American guard Barry Elder (197-82, college: Georgia Tech) who led his team to a victory with 23 points. Forward Davide Pascolo (201-90) contributed with 15 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Four Pall.Trento players scored in double figures. American guard Jobey Thomas (194-80, college: Charlotte) answered with 25 points and naturalized American forward Craig Callahan (203-81, college: NC-Wilmington, agency: Three Eye Sports) added 11 points and 8 rebounds in the effort for Sigma Barcellona. Top scorers: Pall.Trento: B.Elder 23+4reb+2ast, M.Umeh 22+1ast, D.Pascolo 15+7reb+2ast, L.Garri 14+7reb+1ast, M.Spanghero 5+3reb+3ast, L.Dordei 4+6reb+3ast Sigma Barcel.: J.Thomas 25+3reb+1ast, R.Bucci 16+1reb+2ast, C.Callahan 11+8reb+1ast, T.Green 7+3reb+1ast, D.Hardy 7+4reb+5ast, A.Cittadini 6+7reb
Givova Scafati shot down Pistoia to force the fourth game in the series. The hosts started the game with a very strong first quarter 25-13. But Tuscany Pistoia won second period 24-18. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. Givova Scafati made 21-of-24 free shots (87.5 percent) during the game. It was an exceptional evening for American point guard Keddric Mays (183-84, agency: Hart Sports Mngm) who led the winners and scored 27 points and 6 rebounds. Power forward Patrick Baldassarre (200-86, agency: Players Group) accounted for 17 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side. Four Givova Scafati players scored in double figures. Panamanian swingman Michael Hicks (194-76, college: Texas A&M-CC) came up with 30 points and 8 rebounds and American guard Antonio Graves (191-85, college: Pittsburgh, agency: Two Points) added 15 points respectively for Tuscany Pistoia in the defeat. Tuscany Pistoia's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Top scorers: Givova Scafati: K.Mays 27+6reb+3ast, R.Slay 18+6reb, P.Baldassarre 17+10reb+5ast, J.Tavernari 11+4reb+1ast, F.Bushati 6+2reb+2ast, D.Rosignoli 2+2reb Giorgo Tesi PT: M.Hicks 30+8reb+2ast, A.Graves 15+3reb+2ast, G.Galanda 8+4reb+1ast, D.Fajardo 8+4reb, R.Rullo 7, G.Meini 6+3reb+2ast
Eurobasket.com All-Italian Nazionale A Awards 2013 - May 17, 2013
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Player of the Year: Jakub Wojciechowski (210-F/C-90) of Torino; Guard of the Year: Alessandro Piazza (174-PG-87) of Reggio Calabr.; Forward of the Year: Daniele Casadei (199-F/G-81) of Firenze; Center of the Year: Jakub Wojciechowski (210-F/C-90) of Torino; Defensive Player of the Year: Emanuele Rossi (208-C-82) of Chieti; Coach of the Year: Stefano Pillastrini of Torino; 1st Team: PG: Alessandro Piazza (174-PG-87) of Reggio Calabr.; SG: Davide Poltroneri (195-SG-85) of Perugia; SF: Francesco Ih [read more]
Eurobasket.com All-Italian Nazionale A 1st Team 2013
After the quarterfinals (and the playout) this is the situation, group by group, in the division just below the DNA:
A
Controlgom Monticelli Brusati vs Vivigas Costa Volpino 2-0 (80-60, 68-63)
ABC Utensili Varese vs Kopa Engineering Torino 2-1 (89-75, 63-78, 77-66)
S [read more]
After the quarterfinals (and the playout) this is the situation, group by group, in the division just below the DNA:
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