Ex-Reyer guard Filloy hoping to flip the narrative for Avellino in Venice

AVELLINO (FIBA Europe Cup) - Just last season, Ariel Filloy was part of the Umana Reyer Venezia team that sowed misery to Sidigas Scandone Avellino all season long. Having switched sides over the summer, the Italy international is now battling his former club for the FIBA Europe Cup title.

The previous campaign with Reyer Venezia was one to remember for Filloy, who lifted the Italian championship trophy for the first time his career and reached the Final Four in the Basketball Champions League.

"Maybe when I go on the court in Venice or when I see the fans, maybe it will be a little different."Ariel FilloyAriel Filloy

"It was a great season for me and for everybody on that team. I have only good memories from last year," the 31-year-old Argentina-born point guard told FIBA.basketball. "But everything in this world moves really fast, so I try not to dwell on the past too much and just stay focused on the present."

Before moving to south to the Italian region of Campania, Filloy was partly responsible for ending Avellino's season on both fronts – both domestically and internationally.

Reyer Venezia knocked out Scandone in the Round of 16 of the Basketball Champions League before doing it once again in the Serie A, only in the Semi-Finals.

Filloy is playing against his former team 

"The teams have changed a lot from last season. At the end of the day, we are professional players. Before the first leg of the Final, I didn't feel anything special," Filloy brushed the off-court drama aside.

"Maybe when I go on the court in Venice or when I see the fans, maybe it will be a little different. But when we went there to play an Italian championship game, everybody welcomed me well. The fans didn't boo."

Having won the scudetto with Reyer Venezia last year, Filloy is now hoping to add a trophy to the Scandone trophy cabinet. Although the first leg ended in a 77-69 defeat for the Avellino side, they will have a chance at redemption on the return leg at the Palasport Taliercio.

"It's the Final. We are very excited and happy to be here, to reach this stage of the competition," he described the mood around the club.

"The very next day after we went out of the Basketball Champions League, they came and told everyone the goal was to reach the Final and try to win the FIBA Europe Cup. Now we are in the last step to reach the goal of the club and they're happy that we are so close."

All tickets to the decisive title clash in Venice have already sold out five days before the date of the game and Filloy is looking forward to the challenge of turning things around.

"I hope we win the FIBA Europe Cup but I also hope it's going to be a good show for the fans," he said. "I think the atmosphere is going to be great."

Having knocked out Avellino last season, Filloy now holds a perfect opportunity to redeem himself.

 FIBA