Italbasket and Gianmarco Pozzecco ready to turn over a new leaf

At the end of the first part of the pre-EuroBasket retreat in Folgaria (Trento), the Italbasket wants to put Donte DiVincenzo’s forfeit and Danilo Gallinari’s delay (held up in Puerto Rico, where he is playing the playoffs of the local league) behind them, trying to turn the page and prove on the court that they are stronger than the unexpected. The first major event is the Trentino Cup, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 2 and Sunday, Aug. 3.

On the first day of matches at the ‘the T Quodidiano Arena’ in Trento, Italy, the Azzurri will take the field against Iceland (who will field, among others, Martin Herrmansson of Alba Berlin) at 8 p.m., immediately after the end of the first match, that between Poland and Senegal. One of the latter will then meet Italy on Sunday evening.

The Aug. 3 schedule will see Iceland on the parquet first, at 4:30 p.m., against one of Poland and Senegal and then Italy, at 7 p.m., against the other. Among the ranks of the Poles will be Jeremy Sochan, since 2022 in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs, while in the Senegalese national team is among others Tacko Fall, the 229-centimeter giant seen in the past with the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.

“Being here in Trento, as well as starting preparation in Folgaria, is always very nice. I can assure that my players are ready and focused on the’goal, we want to play a great European Championship and start off on the right foot already this weekend” said Gianmarco Pozzecco, the national team’s technical commissioner, on the eve of the event.