Treviso-Cantù is a great classic of Italian basketball, making the necessary distinctions. The current Treviso Basket Universe – as is known -, founded in 2012, has nothing to do with the old company, which carried the Benetton brand around Italy and Europe for years, achieving great successes. But, excluding this necessary premise, Treviso-Cantù has always been a match that has set the respective stadiums ablaze.
The most sensational precedent was in the Super Cup in 2003. After the Italian Cup final won by the Venetians, the two teams met again in September to play the Super Cup final. It was September 27, 2003 and the game was played at the PalaVerde in Treviso. Cantù took great revenge, beating Benetton 79-85. It was the first Super Cup won by Cantù, a particularly important trophy because it arrived against all odds and, above all, twelve years after the last cup lifted, the Korac of 1991.
And it was also Pino Sacripanti’s first success as club coach who, two years earlier, had given Cantù a miraculous salvation. In that Cantù match – by Oregon Scientific – Nate Johnson’s performance stood out, scoring 21 points (equal to Dante Calabria) and voted MVP of the match. It was the team of Shaun Stonerook, Tyson Wheeler and the great Sam Hines. On the bench, an already elderly Dan Gay (42 years old), but also Mats Levin and the young Lorenzo Novati and Patrizio Riva. On the other side, a battery of champions: Tyus Edney, Riccardo Pittis, Marcelo Nicola, Denis Marconato, Massimo Bulleri and two very young and unused Andrea Bargnani and Manuchar Markoishvili.
The Super Cup entered the showcase of Cantù’s successes and returned nine years later, in September, when Mapooro Cantù defeated their eternal rivals Siena 73-80 in Rimini.
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