Milano is set to honor a century of Italian national basketball, commemorating the first-ever international match played by the Azzurri. The celebration, organized and promoted by LIBA (Legends International Basketball Association) Italia, will recognize the historic game against France, held on April 4, 1926, in piazzale Accursio, Milan. The event isn’t just a look back. it’s a chance to celebrate the enduring legacy of Italian basketball and its impact on the nation’s sporting culture.
On Tuesday, March 31, a ceremony will take place at Palazzo Pirelli, within the Aula del Consiglio regionale of Lombardy, prior to the European Session. The event will honor prominent figures from Italian basketball history and feature a preview of the exhibition “100 anni della Nazionale Italiana di Basket” (100 Years of the Italian National Basketball Team). The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM local time (UTC+1) and will be attended by key representatives from Milan and the Lombardy region.
A Gathering of Basketball Luminaries
The event will begin with welcoming remarks from Federico Romani, President of the Regional Council, and Attilio Fontana, Governor of Lombardy. Following these introductions, several former national team head coaches will address the audience, including Sandro Gamba, Ettore Messina, Carlo Recalcati, and Meo Sacchetti. Their presence underscores the continuity and rich history of coaching excellence within the Italian program.
Representing the current state of Italian basketball, the presidents of the five Lombardy-based Serie A1 teams will also be in attendance. These include Graziella Bragaglio (Brescia), Roberto Allievi (Cantù), Andrea Conti (Cremona), Christos Stavropoulos and Claudio Limardi (Olimpia Milano), and Antonio Bulgheroni with Maksim Horowitz (Varese). This demonstrates the strong regional base of top-tier basketball in Italy.
The celebration will also recognize players who have made significant contributions to the national team, both past and present. Pierluigi Marzorati, the all-time leader in appearances for the Italian national team, will be honored alongside Antonello Riva, the team’s all-time leading scorer, and Giampaolo “Pippo” Ricci, the current national team captain. These players represent different eras of Italian basketball success, connecting the program’s history to its present.
International Representation and Historical Context
Adding an international dimension to the event, the French Consul in Milan and Frédéric Fauthoux, the current head coach of the French national basketball team, have been invited. This gesture acknowledges France as Italy’s opponent in that inaugural 1926 match, which Italy won 23-17. The invitation symbolizes the enduring sporting relationship between the two nations.
The event is being organized as part of a broader initiative called “Ripartiamo Basket” (Let’s Restart Basketball), spearheaded by LIBA Italia. Federico Romani highlighted the importance of the collaboration between various institutions – municipalities, the City of Milan, the Regional Council, and others – in making this anniversary celebration a success. This collaborative effort underscores the widespread recognition of basketball’s cultural and social significance in the Lombardy region and throughout Italy.
The legacy of Italian basketball extends beyond the first international game. Romani also referenced the team’s remarkable European gold medal victory in Limoges in 1983, led by coach Sandro Gamba and featuring Pierluigi Marzorati. He emphasized that the spirit of teamwork, discipline, and perseverance embodied by that team continues to inspire current generations of Italian basketball players.
The celebration comes at a time of renewed optimism for Italian basketball, with a new generation of talented players emerging. Romani expressed confidence that these players will carry the torch and ensure a bright future for the Azzurri on the international stage. The event serves as a reminder of the sport’s power to foster growth, inclusion, social cohesion, and innovation.
For those interested in learning more about the history of Italian basketball, the exhibition “100 anni della Nazionale Italiana di Basket” will offer a comprehensive look at the program’s evolution. The exhibition, in collaboration with the Museo del Basket di Milano, will be on display at Palazzo Lombardia, on the 39th floor, from April 4th, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. It will feature 13 totem displays, a nod to the original 13 rules of basketball established by James Naismith in 1891.
The event promises to be a significant moment for Italian basketball, bringing together past and present stars, honoring the program’s rich history, and looking forward to a promising future. It’s a celebration not just of the game itself, but of the values it represents and the impact it has had on Italian society.
The next confirmed event related to Italian basketball is the exhibition at Palazzo Lombardia on April 4th. Fans can follow updates and learn more about LIBA Italia’s initiatives on their official website: https://www.libaitalia.it/. Share your memories of Italian basketball history in the comments below!
