Italy out to write a fresh slice of history at EuroBasket

 MILANO (Italy) -  In Italian exists a pearl of wisdom that Gigi Datome is happy to live or die by.

‘Il campo ha sempre ragione’ … Translation: The court is always right.

“There is no better meritocracy than the court,” declares the veteran forward as he ponders Italy’s wait of 18 years for a major international medal.

A streak including five FIBA EuroBasket tournaments, in which the Azzurri’s best finish was sixth, in 2015.

But, he shrugs, “if me and my team didn't deserve to win a medal, it means that we didn't deserve a medal.”

His sixth shot begins on Friday, on home soil, in Milan. “A new opportunity,” he adds. Perhaps, at the age of 34, his last to become the champion of Europe. Hope, as ever, springs eternal.

History can be a blessing and a curse. A generation, perhaps two, have passed through the locker rooms of Italian basketball, but departed without a prize.

The current head coach, Gianmarco Pozzecco, has a treasured souvenir: an Olympic silver in 2004 in Athens.

18 years after winning silver at the Olympics as a player, Gianmarco Pozzecco is at the helm of EuroBasket co-hosts Italy

Since then? A combination of near and far misses, including an excellent run at last summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo which ended with a Quarter-Final loss to France.

The present players feel tradition resting on their shoulders. The bequest of greats like Dino Meneghin, Antonello Riva, Gregor Fucka and the aptly-named Walter Magnifico.

“All of us always watch the videos of the past,” Nicolo Melli, Italy’s captain for FIBA EuroBasket 2022, admits.

“And, of course, we picture ourself in that moment. We want to be there.”

Carlo Recalcati sat in the center of so many pictures that recorded legends as they were written.

He won three EuroBasket bronzes as a swashbuckling swingman in 1971 and 1975, and  one more in 2003 during a long tenure as head coach that delivered one of only two Olympic medals in Italy’s basketball lore.

“We were a group with few talents but very big hearts,” he recounts of the latter – Italy’s last Euro medal before now - with undue modesty.

The Italy team at the 2004 Olympics in Athens

Now 76, he has come out of retirement to act as Pozzecco’s assistant and sage. “When he called, I could not say no,” he smiles.

Success here is important, Recalcati signals. But just one ingredient in the mix that might restore the national team to the heights from an era when the Italian League trailed only the NBA in prestige and quality.

“Our league is a little down since and I don't know the reason,” he notes. “But this is the problem: step by step, year by year, we slow down and now there are many European nations better than us: Spain, Greece, Turkey, Germany, France.

“It comes down to choices. One of the problems is because we have not enough money to invest for the young player. And we made a big mistake, 20 years ago, when we had clubs do less in that area.”

Yet he sees opportunity now. Melli agrees. That enough seeds have been planted to bring growth to fruition.

“Soccer is the main sport in this country but it's also true that there's a huge fan base for basketball,” says the 31-year-old center who returned to Italy last summer following two years in the NBA.

“Basketball is probably the second sport. And almost all the games here in Milan are sold out already. So this tells us a lot about the culture in Italy.

“I think if we were able to achieve something great in this EuroBasket, we will have a lot of support around the country.”

The journey commences on Friday night against Estonia in a group that also includes Greece, Croatia, Great Britain and Ukraine.

Italy’s bid was knocked by the injury to Danilo Gallinari on the eve of the tournament.

“But,” Recalcati injects, “ I hope all the group will grow and show they can play without a star like Danilo.”

Datome will trust there will be more rights than wrongs shown on the court over the next two weeks.

Something to live for. 

“Every team is different,” he maintains. “And I think no team looks back at past success when they start the EuroBasket. 

“It's a new story every time, so a new possibility  to confirm your success if it does happen.

“It's a part of our history and every time you have an opportunity in basketball, like with every world championship or Olympics, you have the possibility to do something great.”

FIBA