Humble Gentile learns the ropes

LONDON (Friday EuroVision) - There were two big basketball fans in Rome on Sunday that come from England.

One was football star David Beckham, who is often sitting courtside at Los Angeles Lakers games.

The other was me.

Only one got to watch a basketball game in Rome, though, and it wasn't football/fashion icon Beckham, who was on hand to make his debut for AC Milan after signing a short-term loan deal from the LA Galaxy.

I make frequent trips to Rome for a few simple reasons. The cappuccino is divine, the pizza is the best in the world and Lottomatica Roma is a media-friendly club.

In the past several years, I've seen a team that is owned by Rome businessman Claudio Toti turn into one of the best in Italy, and into a solid side Europe.

I’ve seen quite a transformation, too. The club has had Piero Bucchi, Svetislav Pesic, Jasmin Repesa and now Nando Gentile as coaches.

Dejan Bodiroga, who finished his legendary playing career at Roma two seasons ago, is now the general manager.

The roster is stocked with quality from top to bottom, too.

Most recently, under Repesa (also the Croatia national team boss), Roma learned how to scratch and claw their way to victories and respectability in Europe.

After a five-game losing run in Lega A this year, Repesa stood down and Roma, who had wanted him to continue, made his assistant - former Italy point guard Nando Gentile - interim coach.

Gentile, a player I watched play point guard for Milano a decade ago in a Saporta Cup, didn't want the job, and was anxious to hand the reins to someone else. But he did so well after taking over that Roma asked him to remain for the remainder of the season.

On Sunday, even without arguably their best player, Sani Becirovic, who was at home with flu, Roma showed the same kind of fight they had displayed under Repesa by coming from behind to beat Air Avellino in overtime, 93-90.

Gentile was at his self-deprecating best after the game in the mixed zone.

"I started to coach this year," he said to me. "I was a player for a long time, many years.

"I came to Roma to learn under Repesa. Then the change happened after a very tough situation and it was difficult for me but now, we've started to win games so I decided to continue all season."

Many inexperienced coaches are always trying to sell themselves as great but Gentile didn’t walk with a swagger and spoke very candidly about his shortcomings.

"You said you came here to learn," I said, "but now people are learning from you."

That drew another laugh from Gentile.

"It's different," he said. "I was a good player, but coaching is a very difficult job and I have a lot to learn.

"I don't have the experience to have a job with a great club.

"You need to know how to prepare the game, practice, how to talk to players - this only comes with experience."

I had another thought.

"Nando, your playing career made you an ideal candidate to coach because you were a point guard directing the play on the court,” I said to him.

"Point guards make the best coaches because you were running the show then."

"For sure, this helps," Gentile said. "I played point guard for 20 years. (Panathinaikos coach Zeljko) Obradovic was a point guard and he's one of the best coaches in Europe."

I spoke to Brandon Jennings, the hotshot American guard straight out of high school who elected not to play college ball in the United States but instead play in Europe.

Jennings was very complimentary of Repesa, but also spoke warmly of Gentile.

"He gives you freedom to express yourself," Jennings said. "Look how well Ibby (Jaaber) is playing now."

Jaaber had 25 points in the latest excellent game for the former Penn Quaker.

If Roma continue to win, the players who stay would appear to be comfortable with Gentile being in charge.

"What's in your future, Nando?" I asked.

"We'll see how Roma finishes the season, if they want to continue (with me), or bring in another big-name coach," he answered.

"I need to continue to learn. This is a very big job."

"Here at Roma, though, you get great advice from people like Bodiroga and you have great veteran players like former Barcelona captain Rodrigo De La Fuente and point guard Sani Becirovic," I said.

"It does make it easier," he said. "These are intelligent professionals and they do help a lot."

I think Gentile is a great coach in the making.

"So we'll see you coaching the Boston Celtics next year, right?" I said.

Gentile laughed.

"That's my dream," he said.

Jeff TAYLOR