Naismith Trophy visits Italy, and patron saint of basketball

MILAN (Italy) - The Naismith Trophy, the award that will go to the winner of this year's FIBA Basketball World Cup, took center stage on its Trophy Tour presented by J9 visit to Italy.

On June 11, when Game 2 of the Italian Basketball League Finals was being played and between the third and fourth quarters, the trophy was carried to mid court of the Mediolanum Forum in Assago, outside of Milan.

More than 12,000 fans were in the arena to watch the game between Olimpia Milano and Virtus Bologna and saw the trophy that Italy will be gunning for when they run onto the floor in Manila in late August.

Others watching from home also saw the trophy, with the game being broadcast by Eleven, Sky and Rai.

The following day, the trophy was taken to Piazza de Duomo (above) in Milan where passersby snuck a peak. The special guest at the showing was Martina Riva, Councilor of Tourism and Sport for Milan.

The following day, the trophy was taken from Milan to the Sanctuary of Madonna del Ponte (The Sanctuary of Madonna of the Bridge), in the central Italian town of Porretta Terme.

Madonna del Ponte is the patron saint of basketball, so maybe it's not surprising to find inside the sanctuary a chapel (below) that is full of basketball memorabilia.

Former Italy coach Meo Sacchetti visited the chapel before Italy played at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade and the Azzurri won the event to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. Sacchetti's coaching was of the highest order, but it never hurts to pay one's respects to the Madonna del Ponte.

If divine intervention isn't required for Italy to win the FIBA Basketball World Cup, something it has yet to do, don't be surprised if the national team follows the trophy's lead and goes to Porretta Terme before jetting off the Manila.

FIBA