Italbasket: Eight Players Return Home; Marco Ramondino Explains the Decisions
With the conclusion of the top Italian league—won by Olimpia Milano in the final against Reyer Venezia—the Italbasket roster has taken its final shape. Ahead of the friendly matches against Croatia and Slovenia (June 24 and 27) and the 2027 World Cup qualifiers against Iceland and Lithuania (July 2 and 5), will add three players from Olimpia and two from Reyer between June 22 and 23, cutting eight players from the roster and ultimately settling on a 16-player roster.
Leonardo Bettiol, Alessandro Bertini, Lorenzo Bucarelli, Matteo Cavallero, Sasha Grant, Matteo Librizzi, Federico Poser, and Luca Possamai have been authorized to leave the training camp and will not travel with the team. Starting Tuesday, June 23, Leonardo Candi, Nico Mannion, Giampaolo Ricci, and Amedeo Tessitori will join the group, while Stefano Tonut will arrive early on Monday, June 22. Luca Vincini of Dinamo Sassari has also joined the team in the last few hours.
“This week of training camp has been marked by a constantly evolving roster,” explained Marco Ramondino, who will serve as head coach of the national team during this summer window in the absence of Luca Banchi, who is unable to participate due to family reasons. “Due to club season commitments, the players’ physical condition, and the technical evaluations required at this stage, the roster has changed several times.”
“I’d like to thank all the players who participated in these training sessions and who will not be continuing with us,” added Ramondino. “They demonstrated professionalism and dedication, contributing significantly to the quality of the training sessions. It’s never easy to build identity and cohesion when the roster is subject to constant changes, but that’s precisely why everyone’s contribution has been even more valuable.”
“In Gorizia, the team will be further strengthened by the arrival of several players from Milan and Venice,” he continued. “Their integration will mark an important step, but it will require an extra effort from everyone to accelerate the process of getting to know one another and building team dynamics.”
“As Luca (Banchi, ed.) had already emphasized, we’ll need to be willing to make sacrifices, adapt, and collaborate on a daily basis to create—as quickly as possible—a united, recognizable, and competitive team. Challenges are part of the journey, but they can become an opportunity if faced with a shared spirit, responsibility, and mutual trust,” Ramondino concluded.
Roster
1 Nico Mannion 2001 191 Point Guard EA7 Emporio Armani Milan – starting June 23
4 Leonardo Candi 1997 190 Point Guard/Shooting Guard Umana Reyer Venice – starting June 23
7 Stefano Tonut 1993 194 Guard EA7 Emporio Armani Milan – starting June 22
16 Amedeo Tessitori 1994 207 Center Umana Reyer Venice – starting June 23
17 Giampaolo Ricci 1991 202 Forward EA7 Emporio Armani Milan – as of June 23
18 Matteo Spagnolo 2003 193 Guard Baskonia (Spain)
19 Gabriele Procida 2002 200 Forward, Real Madrid (Spain)
22 Giordano Bortolani 2000 193 Guard, Acqua S. Bernardo Cantù
24 Francesco Ferrari 2005 205 Forward, Olidata Virtus Bologna
25 Tommaso Baldasso 1998 192 Guard, Betram Tortona
28 Davide Casarin 2003 196 Guard, Ferramenta Vanoli Cremona
38 Riccardo Rossato 1996 190 Guard, Unahotels Reggio Emilia
40 Luca Severini 1996 204 Forward, Unahotels Reggio Emilia
45 Nicola Akele 1995 203 Forward, Olidata Virtus Bologna
48 Giovanni Emejuru 2002 208 Center, Free Agent
50 Luca Vincini 2003 207 Forward/Center, Banco di Sardegna Sassari
* Club teams refer to the 2025–2026 season
