Italy's time at the Olympics is now, says Datome

ROME (2016 Rio Olympics) - Even somebody who can maintain composure and calm in the heat of battle, like Italian national team captain Gigi Datome, was once an impressionable teenager.

Datome was 17, Andrea Bargnani was 19, Marco Belinelli 18 and Danilo Gallinari 16 when Italy conquered their last medal at a major tournament.

The likes of Gianluca Basile, Giacomo Galanda, Gianmarco Pozzecco were the stars of an Italian side which, coached by Carlo Recalcati, toppled Lithuania in an epic semi-final at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Italy lost 84-69 in the Final to the amazing Argentina of that era but had done more than enough for Datome's generation to dream that, one day, they would emulate that feat.

The Azzurri did not make it to Beijing 2008. They also missed out on London 2012.

In July 2016 though, by virtue of finishing sixth at last September's EuroBasket 2015, they will take part in one of the three FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments and will have a shot at reaching the Rio Olympics.

Datome says there is no time like the present.

I am 28 now, so at the next Olympic Games in 2020 I will be almost 33 and I might not even be part of the national team anymore. So this could be the last chance for me and for many others of my generation. - Datome

"Nobody among us has been there before and we want to bring Italian basketball back to the Olympics," he told fibaeurope.com.

[If Italy gets to host one of the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments] it would help us, because the fans will hopefully give us a great push. But, since that is not something which depends on us, we will wait and we have to be ready to play wherever, against whomever. We need to focus on ourselves and not on things over which we have no control. - Datome

Datome knows first-hand that there are just too many unforeseen circumstances out of one's control which can play an enormous role in a big event.

At EuroBasket 2015, Italy fielded a full-strength team for the first time in years and hoped to return to the podium of a major tournament after an 11-year wait.

Datome however suffered an injury only in the second game of the group stage, against Iceland, and was confined to the sidelines for the remainder of the tournament.

Playing without their captain, Italy suffered a Quarter-Final exit in overtime to eventual finalists Lithuania.

It was a very painful defeat but, in a way, it bolstered even further Datome's determination to get it right in the pre-Olympic tournament.

"For me it was very difficult because I was injured and obviously when you come so close to such a great opportunity to go far and you lose it, it marks you inside. But that's the way it should be, because it motivates you even more to make it in the future, starting with next summer," said the 2.02m forward.

"I've thought about it a lot of times since and at the end of the day, it's part of the game. Hopefully I will be fine in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament so that I will be able to help the team achieve our goal and make it to the Olympics."

Italy will try to achieve their big goal under the guidance of Ettore Messina, who took over last month from Simone Pianigiani as head coach.

The multi-winning tactician, currently an assistant of Gregg Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs, has already got in touch with all Italian internationals, starting of course with his captain.

"It was a short call to make a first contact, he told me he was very happy to be a part of the national team again and hoped to help the team reach our goal," Datome said. "He just wants everybody to stay on the same page and we will keep in contact during the season so that he knows how things are going.

I think he [Messina] has observed the team from outside and with his experience and knowledge of basketball he will be able to help us. I am confident that everybody will be at his disposal, eager to listen and put to practice on the court whatever he asks from us. - Datome

"We will start [training camp] almost immediately after the season ends, there is very little time. So we have no option but to hit the ground running."

FIBA