Treviso has confidence in Marcelo Nicola: the latest on his contract

Treviso is increasingly focusing on Marcelo Nicola. The Argentine coach, who had previously played in the Venetian city from 1998 to 2004 for the former Benetton team before returning as head coach of NutriBullet in 2022–2023, returned in 2025 after a stint in Scafati with a contract running through 2027. Now the contract has been extended through 2028, confirming the management’s shared vision with its coach.

“Continuity and long-term planning are the watchwords: Nutribullet Treviso Basket has extended its relationship with Coach Marcelo Nicola for another year, meaning he will remain with the club through June 30, 2028,” the Venetian club wrote in a press release. Nicola returned to the helm of Treviso Basket on December 30, 2025, leading the team to a fantastic finish to the season, just as he did in 2022 during his first stint on the blue-and-white bench.”

The statement continues with an overview of Nicola’s staff: “At his side will once again be Alberto Morea, born in Taranto, who moved to Ferrara but has since been adopted by Treviso, where he has served as an assistant coach since 2022. Morea’s contract has also been extended through 2028. For the role of second assistant coach, however, there’s a new addition to the Nutribullet staff: Domenico Chiarello. The 29-year-old from Naples previously worked on the bench with Coach Nicola in Scafati. Chiarello thus takes over for Mattia Consoli. Rounding out the staff is strength and conditioning coach Dario De Conti, now a mainstay for Treviso Basket. Having joined the blue-and-whites in 2018, he too has extended his contract through 2028. Nutribullet now boasts a first-rate staff, with its sights set on the future.”

A future that is also being built through player acquisitions, where the blue-and-white front office has already taken significant steps. The first building block was laid in May with the two-year contract extension for Alessandro Cappelletti, the point guard born in 1995 who arrived in January from Valerio Antonini’s Trapani and became one of the key players in the team’s sensational comeback to avoid relegation. Finishing the season with averages of 11.7 points and 5.6 assists, Cappelletti earned the “BEST ITA” award for two consecutive months on the Lega Basket Serie A channels. “This contract extension is an excellent starting point for building next year’s team,” Coach Nicola commented at the signing. “It’s an important sign of continuity and confirms the positive momentum built toward the end of the season. Alessandro is a valuable player, essential not only for the team but also for the club and the fans.”

Cappelletti’s re-signing was followed by other key contract extensions. The club finalized a deal for the return of point guard DeWayne Russell—chosen over Briante Weber—and secured JP Macura, the American guard who had attracted interest from Udine and Cantù after averaging 17.8 points in the last eleven games of the regular season. According to reports, it was Macura’s decision to stay that proved key in convincing center Croswell to remain in the Veneto region, despite interest from Tortona and Reggio Emilia: the Philadelphia big man, who arrived in January, finished the season averaging 15.6 points and 6.0 rebounds, proving decisive in the most crucial games for the team’s survival.

On the incoming player front, General Manager Federico Pasquini outlined the strategy for completing the roster. Speaking to “La Tribuna,” the executive explained that for the starting guard position, the team plans to take advantage of opportunities that will arise after the Las Vegas Summer League: “Barring any offers we simply can’t refuse, I think we might have more opportunities after the Summer League.” For the power forward and a second center, however, the search is more complex, with Pasquini noting that the market is currently inflated by investments from certain clubs. In addition to foreign players, the executive also announced the intention to focus on developing homegrown talent: “I also want to think long-term, as I did a year ago with Allinei: I’d like to establish a system to recruit young players, develop them, and then integrate them into the first team.”