Valerio Cucci: ʺI spent an unforgettable year in Tortona, I still feel the affection of the fansʺ
Among the great protagonists of the 2016/2017 season of Derthona Basket, which ended with the elimination at the hands of Trieste in the second round of the playoffs, Valerio Cucci is preparing to return for the first time as an opponent at PalaOltrepò on the occasion of the next home match of the championship of the bianconeri, the match against Latina on Saturday 26 January scheduled for 20.30pm. It is Cucci himself who says that ʺI'm receiving several messages from fans and friends: even though I only stayed at Derthona for one year, it was so good that it seems like it lasted a decade. There will certainly be some emotion, however, as the fans know well, once I enter the field I will compete at 100% of my possibilities to try to win..
The 2016/17 season spent in the Derthona shirt remains, for the moment ʺthe best season since I started playing basketballʺ. There are several reasons behind the player's statement, to begin with ʺfrom the environment and the group that were created in Tortona. We started the year playing in Casale Monferrato, but since we moved to Voghera the city and the fans have been even closer to us, if possible. I also bonded a lot with coach Cavina and with all the members of the club.
The 2016/17 season was an exciting one for the Juventus team, with a return round of thirteen victories and only two defeats which projected coach Cavina's team into second place at the end of the regular season. In the first round of the playoffs, the Lions got the better of Mantua (3-2) and the decisive game 5 ʺIt represented perhaps the best memory of the year, because we were a team that set out to secure salvation and we managed to get through the first round of the playoffs. Another wonderful moment was in Trapani, when we won with a basket from Phil Greene: in that second round we went onto the field convinced we could beat anyone.. The only regret Cucci remembers from that season was ʺnot arriving at the series against Trieste in 100% condition: it was still an incredible year, in which we worked hard every dayʺ.
In closing, the player wanted to extend a special greeting to ʺLuigino, of whom I have great memories: in that year he was a fundamental figure for the teamʺ.
