Meo Sacchetti “I’m afraid we will soon lose Mannion and Pajola for the NBA”

Holidays in Sardinia for the coach of the national team Meo Sacchetti, interviewed by the Gazzetta dello Sport at the end of a summer not to be forgotten for the movement of Italian basketball. Some of his many statements.

The bar is raised for the European Championship. That’s right. We come from fifth place in the Olympics and we want to ride the wave. At the European Championship we will play our group at home then anything can happen.We are not the favorites to win it but we weren’t even at the Pre-Olympic.

Renovation. In the windows I will not call the Euroleague players, I will want to see someone who has already been in blue before the cuts for Belgrade. I am thinking of Procida and Gaspardo, an emerging prospect and a long of great athleticism. I hope the championship suggests me a pivot. The recovery of the old guard? It is early to talk about it. In the meantime, I would like to go on with the Olympic group.

One name: Paolo Banchero. I know him and I follow him: he is tall, physically strong but he is not a role pivot because he does not play with his back to the basket. At Duke’s college he will also be able to develop that internal dimension that he lacks today. After all, he’s only 18 and time works for him. Next winter I will go to the US to pursue it closely. I do not know if I will be able to call him in the windows, but at the first opportunity he will be included in the team. I am very curious to see him on the pitch with us.

Mannion and Pajola towards the NBA. Yes, because in the national team they played clips together and did well. Pajola is more play, more man-team, I have never seen a player with his sense of position in defense and if he consolidates his shot from outside he will become a top player. Mannion can play guard, offensive is more creative. They form a technically very strong complementary pair. I make a premonition: I fear that soon we will lose them both for the NBA.

The championship that Sacchetti dreams of. With the full of fans in the sports halls, especially young people. And a TV show that gives more prominence to the deeds of the players, the achievements of the teams and the efforts of the clubs. The return of the games broadcast in the clear would be a great driving force for the whole movement.