Cervi feels the trust of Messina

TURIN (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - Riccardo Cervi is not as famous as some of his Italy teammates but the 25-year-old could be one of the national side's important players this week when the Azzurri attempt to win the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Turin.

It certainly bodes well for the 25-year-old's future that Ettore Messina, without a doubt Italy's most famous coach these days, included the center on his roster and is sure to give him a lot of playing time in an event the team must win to book a place in the Rio de Janeiro Games.

The 2.14m Cervi could one day be likened to some of the country's other giants, like Giacomo Galanda, Denis Marconato and Roberto Chiacig, if Italy reach Rio. None were superstars yet each was pivotal in a glorious run for Italy that saw them win Olympic silver in 2004 in Athens.

Cervi's rise to prominence has been rapid. While he had played in qualifying games, he was not in the team that played at EuroBasket 2015.

He forced his way into the reckoning after leaving Reggio Emilia for Scadone Avellino and having an outstanding season.

"I've been working hard in Italy, changed my team for the first time from my hometown team," he said to FIBA.com.

"I worked hard to be here because it was my second goal to be here after the main season in Italy. I'm here, I feel the trust of the coach, this is a good team, everyone knows his role, I know mine and I'm ready to do the best I can."

What Cervi does very well is defend, and his time on the court should also add toughness in the rebounding department. In Sunday's training, he was often on the court at the same time as Italy's 2.12m power forward Andrea Bargnani, which suggests Messina is going to have a twin tower pairing at times during the OQT.

"This coach, we understood that he cares a lot about the defense," Cervi said. "We work hard at that and it's our priority. The attack depends on defense so for sure, it's my main skill and also the coach trusts this."

Cervi has a great opportunity to not only play for his national team but to soak up as much as he can from Messina, the long-time coach in Europe who is now an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs. Messina had a previous spell as Italy's coach, leading them to silver at the EuroBasket in 1997.

"We felt like the first day that he arrived, his power, his mind control over everything," Cervi said. "I think it's going to work very well for us."

He also gets to rub shoulders on a daily basis with Danilo Gallinari, Marco Belinelli and other Italy stars that played so well at last year's EuroBasket and finished sixth.

"It's been a surprise that they're all nice guys," Cervi said. "They're open if you want to talk, if you want to ask something and also playing with them is a great opportunity to learn. They're free to talk to, really nice guys."

What is that first time going to be like in Torino, when Cervi runs onto the floor in the PalaOlimpico?

"When we're here practicing, it's a big gym and we already imagine it being all painted in blue, our fans white and blue," he said. "It's going to be crazy. We're going to transform this into energy and not pressure because it's going to be tough."

Cervi says that something that makes the experience all the sweeter for national team players is that the entire country gets behind them. Fans put aside their club rivalries and pull together in the same direction.

"In Italy, there is a particular kind of fan, they're going to maybe hate you during the season in Italy but when you're with the national team, everybody loves you," Servi said. "It's kind of weird. But this is an opportunity to raise the spirits of the whole movement."

The aim is to get to Rio. If Cervi can help Italy make it, it will be cause for huge celebration.

"It's maybe one of the best things that an athlete like me can dream of," he said, "representing your home country."

FIBA