Marco Belinelli: Passion and Success between Virtus Bologna and NBA

Gianluca Basile again, 'BasketBall&Conversation' again, the format created and produced by Lega Basket. The interviewee, this time, is captain Belinelli. Baso and Beli, teammates and championship winners in Fortitudo in 2005: but the subject of the interview is the present and future of the Juventus captain. "I'm 39 years old, after 24 seasons I still have the passion inside me – says Belinelli –. I want to play, I want to challenge the younger ones even if I know I can't always keep up with them. I want to win". Winning with the Virtus, with which he has lined up the championship, EuroCup, three Supercups and even participation in the Euroleague.

"Thirteen years of nba – Beli emphasizes –: the most difficult choice because at the beginning I didn't play. It all started when I was a child: at school, there were those who wanted to be a policeman, a doctor, a dentist. I wanted to play in the NBA".

And he did it, Marco, the only Italian to win both the ring and the three-point shooting contest, in the year of grace 2014. During his time with the Spurs.

"When I started I had two models - he reveals - Ginobili and you, Gianluca. I liked how you trained. An example for everyone. Repesa must have sent many players home because they didn't train the way he wanted. Not you".

Beli the silent leader, who speaks little, but sets the example. Beli who understood the importance of playing without the ball in San Antonio, studying and imitating Ginobili's movements. Beli who developed a special feeling with Pajola, with the two of them having their eyes closed.

And the defense? "I had good legs," he laughs. "Now maybe a little less. But I try to take advantage of my experience, my cunning."

Without forgetting the trust that Jasmin Repesa gave him, who he will meet again as an opposing coach in the last game of the regular season. "He made me mark the strongest. Even someone like Anthony Parker", he says proudly. The sign that someone as severe and rigorous as Repesa had faith in him.

Beli tells why in 2003, when Virtus was struck off, he chose to simply cross the street.

"Repesa was someone who made young people play. Demanding, tough, his presence was almost intimidating. But he gave minutes to young people, gave them the chance to make mistakes and grow." And Beli, he really grew a lot, if he is the only Italian to have won an NBA title.

"I chose San Antonio for many reasons," he emphasizes. "Not economic. From day one, they showed me Ray Allen's shot from the year before, which, in fact, took the final victory away from the Spurs. I understood many things. Like Popovich. He was more demanding with veterans. But the message that came to me was that if he expected a lot from Duncan, I had to work twice as hard as Tim."

Beli and family. Beli and Bologna. "I became a father of two children. I am madly in love with them and my wife. When you get married, your perspectives change."

But neither the desire to play nor to win ever changes. "I have the utmost respect for young people, but on the pitch I try to massacre them. As they try to do with me. If I have been on the pitch until I am 39 it is because I want to win again".

Retirement may not be far away. But Beli, unlike Baso, will not accept the idea of ​​​​going down a category.

"I spent 13 years in the United States. And I had a good time. But when I was in San Giovanni and had to leave for the States, I almost cried. Even though, once I was there, I felt great. In Bologna I'm fine. Here I have family, friends, loved ones".

Maybe, but he doesn't say this in the interview with Baso - which ends with the image of coach Banchi crowning him MVP - he is missing another championship for one more smile after those reserved for his wife Martina and his eldest daughter Nina on that occasion.