ITA - Back in the big show

CANTU (Euroleague) - Mapooro Cantu are already sky high and their Lega A opener won’t be played until Tuesday night when they host Umana Venezia.

The reason why the fans, players and coaching staff are over the moon is that Cantu, over the weekend, punched their ticket for the Turkish Airlines Euroleague.

The Italians will play in Europe’s elite club competition for the second year running after defeating Lukoil Academic Sofia (87-79), CEZ Nymburk (89-83) and Le Mans Sarthe (80-66) in the Qualifying Round.

Cantu coach Andrea Trinchieri was emotionally drained by the time his players walked off the court after their final win over Le Mans.

"It was six intense and difficult days,” he said.

“I am very happy because for our club, it was important to return back to the Euroleague.

“We had the opportunity and we took it, and now we are back among the best 24 teams in Europe.”

Many of the players that feature in the Euroleague compete at the highest level of international basketball with their respective national teams.

This year will be no different, so that means Cantu have their work cut out if they are to make an impact on the league.

Last year, Cantu made a surprise appearance in the Euroleague Top 16.

The seminal moment was when former Italy international Gianluca Basile hit a long, game-winning three-ball at the buzzer to stun Bilbao in Spain.

This season, one of the players that will have to make headlines if the team is to be successful is current Italy international Pietro Aradori.

The 23-year-old played in the Euroleague the last couple of seasons with Montepaschi Siena and is showing signs he will be a match-winner for both club, and country.

Aradori has as good a chance as any Azzurri player of being a standout at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup if they can qualify via next summer’s EuroBasket in Slovenia.

In Italy's unbeaten qualifying campaign this summer for EuroBasket 2013, Aradori played a starring role.

He averaged 12.4 points in 22.6 minutes per contest, shooting a scintillating 59.1% (39 of 66) from the field.

The 1.94m guard was an impressive 43.8% (seven of 16) from behind the arc as the Italians finished top of their group ahead of Turkey, the Czech Republic, Belarus and Portugal.

Cantu need all the firepower they can muster for the Euroleague because no games are going to be easy.

They will play in Group A with last season’s Eurocup winners, BC Khimki, along with Fenerbahce Ulker, Panathinaikos Athens, Real Madrid and Union Olimpija.

The Fener games will have added spice since former Montepaschi Siena boss Simone Pianigiani, the coach of Italy’s national team, is at the helm of the Turkish giants.

“I must say that when I think of the group, I feel like crying,” Trinchieri said.

“Then again, I did so last year.”

The first week Euroleague regular season games will be played 11-12 October, with Cantu opening their account at home to Slovenians Union Olimpija.

FIBA