REGGIO EMILIA​ (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Italy won their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers games over Romania and Croatia and Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia sharpshooter, Amedeo Della Valle, was a big reason why, averaging 20.5 points.

He spoke to FIBA.basketball about the first window of the Qualifiers.

What did you like most about these World Cup Qualifiers?
A lot of guys that had not made the national team before and had not played, they got a chance to play and show they could do good things for their country.

You had played for Italy under coach Simone Pianigiani.
Correct, with Simone I made the team and went to the EuroBasket (2015) when we played in Germany and then the next two years I was the last cut with Coach (Ettore) Messina. So for me, being excluded two years in a row was a big motivation to perform.

How do you bounce back from being cut?
After the second time, maybe I started to think I wasn't the right guy for Messina's system but I didn't use that as an excuse. I just started working even more. I was really motivated and I'm still very motivated (to show) that I can compete at this level and to prove I can play.

Della Valle was a constant spark for Italy at Croatia

If Italy reach the World Cup but then some of the players aren't selected for the tournament itself, would they view having taken part in the Qualifiers as a worthwhile experience?
Yes I definitely think so. I know all my teammates were happy to compete with each other for something special. We still want to reach our goal, which is to qualify. The Italian team hasn't been to the World Cup in a long time (since 2006) and Italy in recent years have not brought any type of results. The new generation, we are very motivated. We have young people, but with some experienced players in the team. For us young players, it's a big opportunity.

For a player to qualify for the World Cup and then not play at the tournament, would that be a "humiliation", as Messina put it?
I don't know to be honest. For sure coach Messina used strong words. Definitely, it would be tough to help Italy make the World Cup and then not be selected because someone else is taking your spot. To me, it's a big thing to play there. Everyone would want to. But what you have done before to get there is even bigger than just going there and playing. We're young and we all feel like we can help the country. It's not about one guy, one player, or being humiliated. It's about one country.

Do you remember the Italy teams of 2003 (finished third at EuroBasket) and 2004 (Olympic silver medal)? They weren't full of superstars, yet they were great teams. Are there any parallels to be drawn with your own Italy team?
For sure, we're missing two big NBA players (Marco Belinelli and Danilo Gallinari) and also EuroLeague players. These are great people. But the example you give is true. Those teams weren't full of stars, but full of hungry people. They really wanted it. When I remember watching those teams play as a kid, I felt a sense that I was a part of that, even though I was just watching.

"WE (THE NEW GENERATION) ARE VERY MOTIVATED. WE HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT WITH SOME EXPERIENCED PLAYERS IN THE TEAM. FOR US YOUNG PLAYERS, IT'S A BIG OPPORTUNITY." Della ValleDella Valle

What was the feeling like playing against Romania in Torino?
The gym was full. For us, we got really close with each other in a short time. It was fun and it was interesting because all of us were ready to give up something for the next guy. We know we are players that can score. We knew that one game it was going to be this guy and another game, it was going to be another guy. But the big thing was, we had to really give something up for each other.

The come-from-behind win at Croatia must have boosted your confidence.
To start on the road and be down 10 to 12 points, and then come back, it's not easy. And then be up by 20 points at some stage, in a game on the road, it's big. But we can't focus on what we did in the last two games because we're trying to win as many games as we can to bring the points to the next round so our next goal is to win two games (against Netherlands and Romania in February).

How do you evaluate Italy coach Romeo Sacchetti?
When I was with Messina, it was a different system. It was more like you have to do specific things and sometimes I felt like I didn't have the same confidence, or other players didn't have the same confidence like we do with Sacchetti. The things he tells us is to take responsibility, play the way you know how to play. He puts the responsibility on you and at the same time he says "Play like you know and then it's my decision when to take you out if there is something wrong". It's a boost of confidence that we all felt.

Will playing for Italy help you at your club?
I've come back (from the Qualifiers) with a lot in my bag. To play with the national team and, for me personally, to play in that Drazen Petrovic Arena and win that game, it was big. The morning of the game, the shoot-around, I was with two teammates talking about the banner of Petrovic on the wall of the gym. Raphael Gaspardo and I took a photo, it was big.

FIBA