Italy's Della Valle: "I'm just happy to represent my country and I'm just playing"

CLUJ (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Amedeo Della Valle is flying high in the World Cup Qualifiers after Italy's two wins in the past several days.

The Azzurri claimed an 80-62 triumph over the Netherlands on Friday and then crushed Romania three nights later, 101-50.

Della Valle - who excelled in defeats of Romania and Croatia last November and had 22 points and a career-high 29, respectively, in the latest victories - is averaging 24 points a game through the first two windows, ranking him third in the European Qualifiers.

The 24-year-old spoke to FIBA.basketball on Tuesday.

Do you feel like something special is happening for Italian basketball right now?
For sure, something good is going our way. It's not just random to win four games in a row. For example, Romania won in Croatia four days ago and then we go to Romania and supposedly before the game, it's not an easy game but we made it an easy game. The same with the Netherlands because last summer, with a full roster, we struggled to win a friendly game with the Netherlands. We are on a very confident level right now.

Why do you think this team is playing so well right now?
It's easy because the coach puts us together very well. He gives confidence to every single one of us. Of course he has roles (for us). Everyone knows his role. And we are very hungry people. Young guys want to play on the big stage so it doesn't matter if it's Croatia or Romania - all of us will go out there and try to show that we are there. But the credit goes to the coach because he puts us together and gives us confidence.

 Della Valle has a lot of praise for coach Romeo Sacchetti

How does winning affect everyone's mentality about leaving the clubs and joining up with the national team?
For me it's absolutely amazing. It’s a long season and sometimes, it's nice to have a break and focus on something else. Of course winning makes it easier for us but our group makes the difference. We have fun together, we have a great environment. Everything is great.

Is this Italy team one everyone is getting excited about?
Some people say this team doesn't have the NBA players and this or that. But with a full roster, we had a hard time beating the Netherlands in a friendly game last summer. But I see a lot of people bringing energy to us. In Treviso, it was an amazing crowd. In every place, the people love when the players fight, when they bring the energy, when they are hungry and are not satisfied.

Italy are closer to World Cup qualification.
We have eight points right now. We have lost zero points. But we're going to have a tough game at home (against Croatia) and the game in the Netherlands is going to be even tougher. So the next window is going to be the hardest one for us. We must focus on going into the next round with more than eight points.

There may be more players available for the next window in June-July. Is this something you welcome?
Competition is always good, it's what makes players better. But I'm hungry and all the guys are hungry. I don't know who's going to join the team and who's not. That's the coach's job. I think he has the tools to know how to make the right decisions.

Are you getting better because of this experience?
Of course. To me, I'm just happy to represent my country and I'm just playing. Sometimes I read that people don't play for their country and to me, I don't know how that happens.

When you go back to your club, do you feel tired or refreshed?
I feel right now I'm going back energized. I've just had two wins and am happy to go back and try to get some achievements with my club. I feel like I'm getting better all the time and not only with the practices with our team but because you play an international game and it's never easy.

What can you say about the tiro ignoranti you made at the end against Romania on Monday.
It means like ignorant shot, crazy shot.

Are you the master of it?
No, the master is Gianluca Basile. That was his shot and that's how it came up. The fact that he played at Reggio Emilia and I play at Reggio Emilia and I hit some crazy shots, they have done this comparison. It's instinct.

How many times have you made it?
I don't know. To me, it can go in or it can go out. I just shoot it with confidence.

Do you know Basile?
Yes, I know him very well and his sister still works for the club, Reggio Emilia. He's praised me multiple times on my game. He said he loves my game and that I'm really ahead of time compared to what he did and everything. He stressed to me the importance of sacrificing myself for the team and all the words he has said to me have been very important for me, very constructive.

You remember growing up and watching him?
Many times for Italy. For example, I remember against Lithuania (Basile made seven three-pointers and scored 31 points in Italy's 100-91 win in their 2004 Olympic Semi-Final). He had so many good games with the national team, with the clubs. First of all, he's a winner. That makes a big difference.

FIBA