Achilles' Ball: Polonara Takes Aim: "I Want This Scudetto. Virtus, We Can Do It"

The defeat with Milan, the championship, Dusko Ivanovic, the National team and the illness behind him. Achille Polonara answers questions as he does when he is on the court: he doesn't hold back. Maybe you can't always agree with him, but his approach and his way of seeing basketball are contagious.

Achilles, how is he doing in the meantime?

"Good. I feel good."

But the national team meets again and she stays at the Porelli gym.

"It had to happen sooner or later."

Disappointed?

"No, Poz was very frank. He called me and explained the principle. We are already qualified and he said he wanted to see some other guys at work. Sooner or later there will be a generational change."

Poz direct and frank and you?

"There has always been a good relationship with the coach, I can only reiterate that I appreciated the way he did it. He called me, explained. What more could he have done?".

Speaking of more, at Virtus…

"Only the Scudetto remains, I know."

A trophy that has always eluded her in Italy.

"When you get to the bottom, at the end, you have a 50 percent chance of making it."

She…

"I've lost several times. I think that between us and Milan, given that these were the last finals, the gap is not that high. A championship is decided by the details. I hope this is a good year."

He says Milan and the thoughts go back to the Italian Cup and Turin.

"It wasn't our best match. Milan started off aggressively. We never recovered."

From the outside, you threw in the towel too early.

"We fell apart, at that point it was difficult to recover. I continue to think that there will be many matches with Milan. We have to study them. To better understand their weak points and our strong points. And in any case...".

Tip.

"We know we have to react as a team. Not by trying to solve a game individually."

Did you talk to each other?

"There was no need. It was enough to look each other in the eyes. We are a mature team: we know what the mistakes were. We know how to change. More than words, we need looks. Of understanding".

Forgotten Milan?

"We lost more because of our own shortcomings. We know that the approach will have to be different."

The Euroleague will start right after the restart.

"Hopes are slim, or perhaps nonexistent."

Surrender?

"Not even in your dreams. We will try to win. Out of respect for the shirt, the fans and ourselves. Nobody wants to lose."

A year ago, in the Euroleague, things were different.

"The team has changed, some endings have changed. Then there were the injuries. Without forgetting that at the beginning, we were without Cacok and Grazulis, or at least one center. And now we have gone on without Clyburn and Zizic. Two of the quintet".

Do you ever think back to your stop a year ago?

"Yes, sometimes yes. I consider myself lucky. I got out of it. I discovered many friends."

Was he scared?

"The truth?"

Yup.

"My first thought was the fear of dying. Until the day before I was fine, then I discovered I had an oncological problem. And I got scared. When they explained to me that I could recover, another fear arose."

What?

"I'm an athlete, I love basketball. I thought my career might be over."

And instead it's here.

"I owe it to my family, who never left me alone. To the society that was close to me. And to so many people who I discovered were friends. When the news of the tumor spread, I found calls and encouragement from people I didn't even think about."

Would you like to become a testimonial to fight the problem?

"I don't know. I took part in some debates and conferences. I talked about myself. What I felt. How I got out of it. It wasn't a burden: if my words can be of help, I'm available".

The three-point shot?

"It comes and goes. Of course I am not and do not feel like Belinelli. Even if the shot doesn't go in, however, I can lend a hand in many ways."

Dusko Ivanovic?

"Great experience. I knew him from my time at Baskonia. I felt good then. I'm feeling good now. I think the team is also playing better."

All things considered, we return to the Scudetto.

"And I want to get there. The tricolor has eluded me so far, but I want to get it, sooner or later. Doing it with this shirt on would be even more beautiful."