paolo ghisoni

........

...............

Paolo Ghisoni .

No one would dare to hope. Yet, paradoxically, somebody had understood that something important could take place after a defeat. The defeat was that against Croatia, where the Italian basketball players, in the second half alone, had wasted nearly twenty points against one of the strongest teams in the world.

We have talked about a team because the triumph of the Italian basketball mainly resulted from this: twelve individuals who are very united not only when playing, and this despite the exclusion of Pozzecco, a moody playmaker who was not deemed indispensable by the coach. This was a courageous choice also from a technical viewpoint.
However, Italy proved to be able to efficiently compensate for this supposed organizational lack. The other players, including Myers, Fucka, Meneghin, Abbio and Galanda, even though with different means and characteristics, have always been able to offer that special individual contribution the climax phase of a match required.
At last, Italy even managed to gain the European title, with undisputable merits, making the most of that positive psychological situation that resulted from the fact of having reached the target. Being able to defeat, before Spain in the final, Russia and Jugoslavia, who were the world champion and vice-champion, respectively, gives a clear idea of the exploit made by the five trained by Tanjevic. The Italian team had its point of strength in the interchangeability of its elements. In no occasion Tanjevic with his decisions has laid himself open to the most typical criticism of Italians: “This player is better than that one, replace this player with that one.”

So Italy has come back to the victory in Europe 16 years after its last success, which by sheer coincidence also took place in France, in Nantes, in 1983. And above all, after years of failures, Italy has managed to qualify for the Olympic Games. The Italian basketball has thus succeeded in making the most of the success of national teams, first of all the two Bologna-based teams.
In theory, Italy was not the strongest team, but at last it proved that on the field. For example, by playing the final against Spain not as a great team but with the mental attitude of who knows to have the best strings to his bow. Also, with the right competitive spirit and never losing the emotional strain even after two stirring and equally unexpected victories against Russia and Jugoslavia. In particular, the challenge match with the world champions, other than being the real surprise of the year, should be seen as the turning point of the French tournament. This match had a trend similar to the opening match against Croatia: first a 18-point lead for three-quarters of the game with a perfect performance.
Then the sudden awakening with the players faced with the possibility of victory.
A nightmarish awakening, with the Croatians surpassing the Italians near the end of the match. In this situation, instead of melting like snow, the Italian basketball team gradually gained the full awareness of its strength.
In this context, the example of the volley team can be very useful.
The Italian team trained by Velasco, which was world champion for two times, has led to the setting up of a school and a model that have continued to bear fruit also after the resignation of the Argentinian trainer.
It is quite probable that Tanjevic will continue to train the Italian team and it is certain that his questionable choices and plain speaking may not be seen as appropriate in the attempt of setting up a relation with the players.
Yet, this man of iron has obtained what he wanted. And it is also clear that, when referring to Sydney Olympics, the road for the team towards its confirmation will be rich in traps.
.
.