Alberto Giove Cup: A Triumph for Estonia

The 36th edition of the Alberto Giove Cup, a prestigious international Under-15 basketball tournament that has served as a key platform for the development of young European basketball talent for nearly four decades, concluded with a victory for the Estonian team.

In the final played at the Palazzetto della Forti e Liberi, the Estonian team defeated Derthona 84-75 at the end of an intense and spectacular game that confirmed the high technical level of the event.

The 2026 edition featured sixteen teams, divided equally between eight Italian squads and eight from abroad. Alongside Estonia, teams from Lithuania, Austria, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, the Czech Republic, and the United Arab Emirates were present, reflecting the event’s growing international scope.

The games were held at the Palazzetto della Forti e Liberi and the NEI Sports Center, with the involvement of the sports arenas in Villasanta and Lissone as well, transforming the Brianza region into a meeting point for young athletes from diverse sporting and cultural backgrounds.

The Alberto Giove Cup was established in 1988 to honor Alberto Giove, a young basketball player who tragically died in a mountain accident. Over the years, the tournament has become a premier showcase for numerous Italian and international prospects, many of whom went on to pursue high-level careers in professional basketball.