Italbasket, return to Reggio Emilia after 24 years

Italbasket in Reggio Emilia

The men’s national team returns to play in Reggio Emilia after 24 years. Coach Gianmarco Pozzecco’s Azzurri will take on Iceland Monday, Nov. 25 at PalaBigi in the fourth qualifying game for EuroBasket 2025, the European Championship to be held next summer between Latvia, Cyprus, Finland and Poland.

Taken care of for the Italian Basketball Federation by’commercial advisor Master Group Sport, the’organization of the match will see the precious and decisive support of the Emilia-Romagna Region and the professionalism of Pallacanestro Reggiana, which just this’year celebrates its first 50 years of history.

After last February’s victories against Turkey (87-80 in Pesaro) and Hungary (62-83 in Szombathely) the’Italbasket will therefore face a delicate back-to-back against the Icelanders playing in Reykjavík on November 22 and right in the “Cityà of the Tricolor” three days later seeking in these two games a qualification that could come well before the “final window” scheduled for February 2025. The’match time and all ticketing information will be announced in the coming weeks.

This is the first official match of the men’s national team in the capital of Emilia, which before now had hosted two friendly matches at PalaBigi, both won, in 1978 and 2000. The first ever, on Jan. 6, 1978 against Turkey for the “Decio Scuri” Cup, was a 107-77 for the Azzurri led on the bench by Giancarlo Primo. Top scorer with 20 points was the late Claudio Malagoli, born in Novellara, less than 20 kilometers from Reggio Emilia. On the other hand, the last appearance was on Feb. 26, 2000: success against Antoine Rigaudeau’s France 69-65 in the year of the Sydney Olympic Games. On the bench for Italy, Boscia Tanjevic. Top scorer Carlton Myers with 20 points.