E’ it was an important season, for the “Oranges” of INVICTUS Academy. A season in which our athletes faced a new challenge with the best mentality, that of joining kids from another club, l’Atletico Basket, enter into new balances and train with maximum commitment, to help their teams win e, as it should be, grow and improve day after day.
Everyone did it, without exception. And what was achieved with sweat and effort on the parquet, between training and matches, it will be an important wealth of individual experience, which will allow each of them to become a player (e, first of all a person) increasingly stronger in the near future. Here because, the games finished, it seems right to us “call on the field” all our athletes!
From the biggest to the smallest, ok? Unique 2003, Lorenzo Benini was part of the training Under 20, earning the Coach's place and trust from game to game, taking advantage of its long atypical characteristics, who makes up for his size with his walking speed, making a substantial contribution starting from defense and adding 55 points 20 games with high of 6, between First Phase and Second Phase.
His brother is with him on the team Alessandro Benini, class 2005. Double spot of shooting guard and small forward, capable of using his physique to assert himself even inside the area and on the rebound, his trademark is the three-point shot, and beyond 106 points 22 games with high of 11, the most important flash was certainly the 3/3 from the arc in the third quarter of the Second Phase match against the Tigers in Cesenatico.
Always class 2005, Gianluca Forino he disputed 22 games with l’Under 20, realizing 275 points 22 matches for 12,5 in the media, with high of 24 (12 times in double figures, 6 of which above 20, e 4 times in double figures in rebounds), 2° best team scorer, 8° best scorer of the First Phase (single 2005 in the former 15) and 9th of the Second Phase, best team rebounder with 149 rebounds, 6,8 better. In addition, 9 games played, 25 points scored and a high of 8 with the Series D.
Two of ours 2006, though Filippo Garuti unfortunately he was able to start the season late, joining the group in the race Under 17 due to an ankle injury suffered in September, however, putting themselves at the service of the team and gradually increasing their performance, with 23 made in 11 races and a high of 6 scored in the last match.
He kept his commitment to being a point of reference for the group James Rocchi instead he was the 2nd best scorer on the team and 11th in the Championship with 168 points 13 matches , with an average per race of 12,9 a high of 20 points, going 10 times in double figures in points and several in rebounds. More, he deserved it 6 games with l’Under 20 realizing 19 points, with a high of 9.
Together with them in’Under 17 our 2007, Riccardo Botti he started with a great energy in the pre-season friendlies, but unfortunately he was limited on the eve of the Championship by a sprained ankle, which was followed by another shortly after returning. Every time he took the court he brought defense and rebounds (for him 8 points 10 matches, high of 4).
The great victory of John Pieragostini was to overcome physical problems with my feet, not yet completely resolved despite heavy surgery, but he has already shown that he has the character not to give up. E’ joined the group in all respects, he came to training even when he couldn't train, ed i 5 points scored in 7 attendance (with high of 3) they were the icing.
Finally a full season for Gabriele Trentin, after the initial months of last season spent in the pits, always trying to give my best both in attack and defense, in a difficult role like that of directing. He played all of them 13 the games, gritting his teeth at the end of the season due to a knee injury without stopping, marking 78 dots with a high of 13.
Splitting between the point guard spot and the guard spot, David Valdiserri has taken an important step forward this season, demonstrating strong growth, especially in terms of defense and in the character with which he approached even the most difficult matches, integrating as best as possible into the group and contributing with a contribution from 33 points 12 attendance, with high of 8.
In the second part of the season he also joined the group Matteo Magri, unfortunately without the possibility of playing in the Championship for bureaucratic reasons (the registration process took a long time to complete, having been born in the United States), but this allowed him to approach every training session as if it were a match, giving your best and becoming part of the group.
We are at Under 14, with our three 2009 historians who have capitalized on the experience gained last year, when they had played in the Championship of 2008, accepting the role they have been given to shoulder the responsibilities of becoming the leaders of a completely new group, made up of teammates (in much of the 2010) who had never played in a FIP Championship.
Jacopo Sozzi he was the Top Scorer of the Championship, marking 456 points with an average of 22,8 a gara ed a high of 40, going into double figures in all and 20 the matches played. He proved himself capable of handling the honor and burden of being the man that opposing defenses had to stop, raising the quality of your game, improving choices without ever being selfish, indeed being searched for repeatedly.
Giulio Stroppa it was the tip of the balance, every time he was on the team's level of play soared, called upon to carry the ball but also to attack the basket and hold the defense, exploiting the physique from all-around, He has made 206 points 17 games with an average of 12,1 a gara ed a high of 22 points, going into double figures for 12 volte, 6° in the Championship scorers' ranking.
Alessandro Forino he was the captain of the group and the soul of the defense, dealing with the most dangerous opponents, going for rebounds and diving on loose balls. In attack he acted as a glue, realizing 139 points 19 games with an average of 7,3 a gara ed a high of 12 points repeated for good 4 times on 7 races in which he scored double figures, 13° in the Championship scorers' ranking.
They were joined by three other boys from the 2009. All three without ever having played basketball in the youth sector, and should be highlighted as a compliment. The first was Bruno Stivanello at the end of November and we can say that it has forged ahead. Long physique and positional sense, he went onto the field without fear of making mistakes, playing 18 matches and achieving 41 points, 2,3 on average with a high of 8.
It arrived in mid-January Lorenzo Negrini, preferring basketball to tennis, and he worked hard, immediately earning the trust of coaches and teammates. He still has to grow physically, but he has a future as a point guard ahead of him and has already demonstrated his ability 9 points he scored in 10 games played (with a high of 4) that the hand is there, you see a big basket from the corner.
And it finally arrived in January Edward Pilia, who even before the registration was completed began to follow his teammates in matches not only at home but also away. He is recovering from a foot problem that prevented him from even moving properly, not to mention running, he knows it will take time, in the meantime the first ones have arrived for him 8 appearances on the parquet.
These are the 16 “Oranges” who gave their all in the Sports Season 2022/2023. They all deserve a round of applause, with thanks to their families for the support they have shown us. We believe that the path taken this season has been positive for the teams they have played for, as well as that it was a growth for each of them. But a huge thank you goes to two others “Oranges”, our coaches, Ivan Cicchelli e Luca Branchini.
The Under 20 they came one step away from the Playoff Semifinals, after winning 10 of the latest 11 matches between the end of the First Phase and Second Phase, finishing third on equal terms with Budrio and Anzola, but fifth for direct clashes. In total, they got 15 wins and 7 defeats (8-6 in the First Phase e 7-1 in the Second Phase). The Under 17 they achieved 5th place in the group with 11 twenty and 8 missed, remaining in the running until a few days before the end for third place, just as they also took 5th place Under 14, authentic surprise of the Championship, with 12 wins and 8 defeats. We like to underline how all three groups ended with a victory, respectively on Raggisolaris Faenza, Fortitudo 103 and Pallacanestro Calderara, and all closed with a largely positive balance sheet.
Not alone, of course. Because together with “Oranges” there were i “Reds” dell’Atletico Basket, whom we thank in the figures of the President Luca Albanelli and the Technical Manager Luca Pietrantonio, including all their components, athletes in the first place. The first two groups played with the red and white uniform and the third with that of IRRESISTIBLE Bologna, but it's not the color of the shirt that matters, just as the team results obtained on the field also count relatively much, at youth level. What matters is that the kids had a good time, have teamed up and grown as players and as people throughout this season, keeping his passion for basketball very high. For the love of the game.
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