ITA - Maifredi excited about Italy future with Bargnani

ROME (FIBA) - Italy is never far away from the basketball headlines. Its national sides always seem to be in the hunt for medals and leading club teams like champions Benetton Treviso fly the flag high for one of the top leagues in the world, Lega A.

Basketball has been at the front of everyone’s thoughts in November, with 21-year-old Andrea Bargnani quickly demonstrating that his selection as the number one pick in the NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors was full of merit.

The 2.13m forward has seen his minutes increase dramatically the past two weeks and he has made the most of them. In Toronto’s victories over Indiana and New Orleans, Bargnani scored 14 and 16 points, respectively.

He drove to the basket, shot three-pointers and blocked shots.

As we look back at that announcement by the Italian Basketball Federation that Bargnani would not play at the FIBA World Championship this summer so he could prepare for what promised to be a demanding rookie campaign in the NBA, it suddenly makes sense.

While his absence deprived the Italians, and hoops fans in Japan, of watching one of emerging talents in basketball, it allowed Bargnani to focus on the hard year ahead.

In an exclusive interview with Gianni Pintus on behalf of FIBA, Italian federation president Fausto Maifredi talks about Bargnani, the Italian national teams and challenges he faces.

FIBA: We’re thrilled to see how Andrea Bargnani is playing in his rookie NBA season with Toronto. This summer, the federation and coach Carlo Recalcati clearly took pressure off Bargnani by saying he would not go to Japan so he could focus on his first year with the Raptors. Are you glad you made that decision?

Fausto Maifredi: “To be honest, it was Andrea’s decision to miss the World Championship in Japan. He spoke to (coach Carlo) Recalcati and in the end, both decided this was the best solution for Andrea as he wanted to be fully fit physically and mentally for his NBA debut. My feelings were a bit different. I know Andrea was right to miss Japan as the NBA season with Raptors was important, especially to be at his best in the summer camp, but as president of the FIP I was a bit sad not to see my best player in action in a world cup competition.”

FIBA: Now, if Bargnani continues to develop, Italy may have a real match winner at next year's EuroBasket in Spain. How important is it for Italy to have Bargnani in Spain, not just from a wins and losses standpoint, but to have the attention of the Italian public on basketball?

Fausto Maifredi: “Recalcati met him in Toronto not long ago and told him of the importance to have him in Spain next year, so Andrea knows how much the federation wants him for the Spanish adventure. Anyway, we’re going to the next EuroBasket with such important players likes Bargnani, (Marco) Belinelli and (Danilo) Gallinari, plus many young but important players. Yes, it is important for the Italian fans to see Andrea in our ranks, but also it is very, very important for Italy to have him as we are going with the ambition to win the tournament.”

FIBA: Even without Andrea, Italy had a very good FIBA World Championship, advancing from Group D in Sapporo. It was a disappointing ending with that narrow defeat to Lithuania in Saitama in the Eight-Finals, but overall did you feel that positive steps were taken?

Fausto Maifredi: “Personally, I was very disappointed to lose against Lithuania, but if I look at the age and experience of my team in that game, I was quite happy. This team is working for the next EuroBasket and the next World Championship. Give us two or three years, and I believe we will have an unbelievable team.”

FIBA: You have mentioned Belinelli, and Gallinari who is just 18 years of age but is already making a huge impact with Armani Jeans Milano. There does seem to be a great pool of talent in Italy. You rested players like Giacomo Galanda, Massimo Bulleri and Roberto Chiacig, yet the others who came into the squad more than held their own against opponents like Team USA. Fabio Di Bella was fantastic at times, as well as Mason Rocca. Were you surprised how they gelled and do you truly believe Italy will get a lot better in Spain?

Fausto Maifredi: “It is true that we rested a few important players, but this will be a great outcome for us. It means we can face any team without fear and stay close on the scoreboard even rested important players. Like I said before, we are going to Spain with high hopes, and I'm sure our young players are getting more experience than ever which will be vital in Spain, also we can't forget Andrea will be there.”

FIBA: Women's basketball has a wonderful opportunity in Italy next year when the country hosts the EuroBasket Women. What are your thoughts looking ahead to that event?

Fausto Maifredi: “We are putting in a tremendous effort to organise the tournament. We want to make everything perfect and the icing on the cake is a dream victory. But there many good teams. Our next team, though, will try to win the EuroBasket in our beloved country. I think Italy are one of the favourites but Russia, the Czech Republic, France and Spain have a great chance to win it.”

FIBA: What about the overall state of the game in Italy? What do you see as the biggest challenges facing you, and the federation?

Fausto Maifredi: “I believe overall, we are in great shape. Of course we always try to get better and stay at the level of the other federations, and we are working hard to take Italian basketball to another level, but it’s not easy. Our biggest challenge in my dreams is to win the Olympic Games. If Italy one day win this tournament under my reign, I will be the happiest president on the planet.”

By Gianni Pintus, PA Sport
Exclusively for FIBA