IBSA Next Gen Cup, Allianz Derthona ends with three wins out of four in the first stage of Varese. Statements from the responsible manager Ablatico
The first stage of the 2024/25 IBSA Next Gen Cup concluded in Varese with a positive outcome for the Allianz Derthona Tortona Under 19 Eccellenza team , which achieved three wins (against Napolibasket, Pall. Varese, and Virtus Bologna) and one loss. In the second and final stage of the qualifying phase, scheduled for Rimini from January 2nd to 4th, the Lions will lead Group A, tied on points with Virtus Bologna, Pistoia, and Cremona, hoping to finish among the top four in the standings and qualify for the Final Eight in Brescia in February.
Youth sector director Andrea Ablatico 's comments at the end of the Varese camp: "It was a very rewarding four days for both us and the boys. I thank Marco Aloi and the entire Legabasket for the organization. I also thank the Borgomanero College Basketball club for their willingness to lend us Adriano Bazan, hoping he'll be with us for the next stages as well. It's a tough group because there were some surprise results. We started slowly against Pistoia but managed to finish very well with the final win against Virtus thanks to Edoardo Aprile's last-second half-court basket, which brought great joy and satisfaction to everyone. It's always a pleasure ," he continued, " to be able to get together with managers and coaches to talk about this sport in the youth sphere. There are so many promising prospects, so we're happy to have given our boys this experience. As I said before, despite the very challenging group, we're 3-1 and now it's time to go to Rimini with three games left to play and win as many as possible. It's the first time we've had this opportunity." We need to win five out of seven games to qualify for the final stage, but I'm confident. We'll play against Scafati, Cremona, and Trento, the latter of which remains the favorite, despite the setbacks, along with Milan for the tournament title. Thanks to the results we've achieved, we can say where we are at this point in the season, and the feedback is certainly positive." Ablatico concludes with a reflection: " I'll make one final point. At Next Gen, there are the 16 youth teams from Serie A. We have a movement where we all always complain for more complex reasons, but we are the first ones who should ask ourselves a few questions. Between Serie B Interregional, Serie B National, and Serie A2, there are around 300 coaches working in basketball, and in these four days in Varese, including coaches and assistants, I've only seen three. Surely those who weren't there will have checked in, and the Serie A coaches have their finger on the pulse. But seeing so few of them, after some Serie B teams complain about the short bench, not knowing which players to sign, relying on agents, we as a movement should ask ourselves a couple of questions."
