Ettore Messina: Windows for National Teams would make sense if we were football
Gherardini: "They go to the opposite direction of how European basketball for clubs wants and needs to evolve". FIP President Petrucci: "I can’t believe that Armani, one of the sponsors of Italy for the Olympic Games, will deny his players to the NT"
The president of the Italian Basketball Federation (FIP) Gianni Petrucci and the head coach of the Italy’s National Team, Ettore Messina, had different opinions on the National Team windows in the middle of the season from the upcoming campaign.
Both spoke with La Gazzetta dello Sport about this “hot” topic with EuroLeague that won’t have a break in its calendar for next season during the two NT windows scheduled for November and February.
“I don’t think about suspensions. But I can’t believe that Armani (owner of Olimpia Milano, the only Italian in EuroLeague), one of the sponsors of Italy for the Olympic Games, will deny his players to the National Team. I count on his sensibility” Petrucci said. “It is like the Wars of the Roses. I will ask for an intervention of CONI (Italian Olympic Committee) and IOC. We would play the qualifications with players that won’t take part at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Where is the competitive equality?” Petrucci added. “FIBA, as FIFA does, wants to give more visibility to the National Teams”.
Ettore Messina has a different opinion on the National Team windows.
“It looks like a war between the poor. We are not talking about the NBA, whose strength is comparable to the football National Teams. In some countries the National Team games are more important than club games. Windows make sense if National Teams have a huge enthusiasm behind them. Messi has no problems to jump on a plane, cross the Ocean and play for Argentina. But only NBA has this uniqueness in the basketball world”.
Maurizio Gherardini, GM of Fenernbahce Dogus, recently named EuroLeague Executive of the Year, is contrary to the National Team Windows.
“They go to the opposite direction of how European basketball for clubs wants and needs to evolve” Gherardini said.
Both spoke with La Gazzetta dello Sport about this “hot” topic with EuroLeague that won’t have a break in its calendar for next season during the two NT windows scheduled for November and February.
“I don’t think about suspensions. But I can’t believe that Armani (owner of Olimpia Milano, the only Italian in EuroLeague), one of the sponsors of Italy for the Olympic Games, will deny his players to the National Team. I count on his sensibility” Petrucci said. “It is like the Wars of the Roses. I will ask for an intervention of CONI (Italian Olympic Committee) and IOC. We would play the qualifications with players that won’t take part at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Where is the competitive equality?” Petrucci added. “FIBA, as FIFA does, wants to give more visibility to the National Teams”.
Ettore Messina has a different opinion on the National Team windows.
“It looks like a war between the poor. We are not talking about the NBA, whose strength is comparable to the football National Teams. In some countries the National Team games are more important than club games. Windows make sense if National Teams have a huge enthusiasm behind them. Messi has no problems to jump on a plane, cross the Ocean and play for Argentina. But only NBA has this uniqueness in the basketball world”.
Maurizio Gherardini, GM of Fenernbahce Dogus, recently named EuroLeague Executive of the Year, is contrary to the National Team Windows.
“They go to the opposite direction of how European basketball for clubs wants and needs to evolve” Gherardini said.
E. Carchia
@Sportando
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