Interview with Marco Picchi: “The Derthona from Naumoski to the A2”
Tortona. From Petar Naumoski to Derthona's third place in A2 today. A seven-year journey that has seen the Lions climb championships while always remaining with that component of "familiarity" that allows the club to still be a group of friends with a passion for basketball. Marco Picchi, first team captain and now general manager, retraces the crucial stages experienced in recent seasons and the future prospects of a healthy and ambitious club.
From 2008 to today. What has remained the same?
«We have grown a lot in a short time and every year we add a new piece. The bond with the people who wore the Derthona shirt remained. A group of boys who grew up with Fassino and Tava who still want to discuss the matches at the stadium"
Let's talk about this family dimension of society, is it also possible in A2?
«Yes, everyone contributes what they can. There are about twenty volunteer friends who meet at eight o'clock every Sunday when we play at home and then go to the field and lend a hand. We are a structure that until a few years ago placed boys from Tortona who planned to go on away games together with some managers"
Then in 2008 Petar Naumoski arrived with a pro career with Efes Pilsen, Treviso, Milan, Ulker
«It was the first turning point and a great source of pride, we began to create credibility in the world of basketball and Tortona has become a sought-after destination for players and coaches»
Tell us three fundamental stages before arriving in A2
«In May 2009 in C2 the victory in the final against Crocetta Torino coincided with my last match as a player. June 2012 when we beat Novara. There was tension because we had won all the games in the regular season and we reached a decisive game 3 with Luca Anselmi who broke his wrist in the finishing phase"
When you and Fassino were on the steps of the Tortona hospital waiting for the outcome of the medical report
«Yes and a person had seen us and had called my mother at home to find out if something serious had happened (smiles ed.)»
Then there is the victory at PalaDozza with Fortitudo
«It's the third photograph I've carried with me in January 2014. A perfect match in front of 5 thousand people. Lastly I also put the final four with Legnano"
Now the team is third in A2 and the fans are dreaming
«The location is a surprise for me too. There was Simoncelli's injury who played a third of the games and our roster wasn't very long. I thought this lack would affect us more but we were good at not noticing it. Now the captain is our best signing of January"
Where can this Derthona go?
«We are a serious company and a consolidated reality. We want to stabilize ourselves close to the teams that have a different catchment area and history from us. I'm not just talking about Bologna or Siena, but also Verona, Brescia. We are like Fiorentina in football: we want to try to play a trick on the adults. We can confirm ourselves and aim for the play offs"
What is the greatest disappointment and the most intense joy after these first 16 races?
«We all cared about the race with Casale and we had the worst race of the year. With Casalpusterlengo without Simoncelli and Marks we did everything very well, but we were close to winning: it left a bad taste in our mouths. The greatest satisfaction was the match won in Siena, exciting to enter a field that has written the history of basketball in the last ten years"
What is his winning bet?
«Seba Bianchi. Taken by Cento, the coach didn't know him, but I insisted a lot and it's very important for our balance. Then there is also Marco Spissu as the starting point guard who deserved a place in the All Star Game, but in general the Italians are behaving well"
However, the feeling with Ammannato didn't develop, why?
«I'm sorry, but there was no understanding between him and the Derthona world in general. We want people who are happy to stay with us, if this isn't the case we won't keep anyone. It was a mistake not to make a strong decision in September. I'm convinced he's good, but without motivation you can't do well."
And Iannilli arrived and immediately fit in well
«He packed his suitcase in 24 hours and asked his agent to come to Tortona. He just arrived, he has already done well, but he has room for improvement »
How many points do you need to reach the playoffs?
«With 32 points they are done. It's a championship in which anything can happen as evidenced by the latest victories in Omegna, Biella and Reggio Calabria. There are eight points between us and the third from last"
How much Cavina is there in this Derthona?
«He is a great coach, the best there is for Derthona. To make a person express themselves to the fullest, you also need the right place. There is a feeling between us, we feel and compare ourselves. The future? If he's happy with us, I don't see any reason not to continue."
Meanwhile, the fans are already imagining the jump to A1
«We keep our feet on the ground because we are living our NBA. It would be a crazy leap. But if five years ago they had told me that we would be in A2 I wouldn't have believed it. Just thinking about the playoffs is a source of pride."
Pala Oltrepò Chapter. It holds 1000 people and so far it has always been sold out. But due to federal provisions it will be necessary to expand it. The Municipality of Voghera has a project to bring it to 1800 places, but then it has to be filled
«In the meantime I don't see any arena to play in other than the PalaOltrepo or returning to the Palacamagna to play in lower categories. With around 600 more places it becomes a new challenge: we'll see if we can become the representative team of a territory. So far we are very satisfied because in addition to the people from Tortona, people from Voghera and neighboring towns come to the stadium."
