Basket The return of Cantù to Serie A

The great, little Cantù returns to the place that it belongs to her: the Serie A. In a building in Desio overflowing with enthusiasm, the decisive victory against Rimini arrives: the 3-0 that establishes the promotion after four seasons of Purgatory. The Italian basketball of excellence recovers a historical protagonist and President Roberto Allievi, upset by happiness, represents physical continuity with the glorious 60s, 70s and 80s, those of the guidance of his father Aldo, the badges and the cups of the champions. The spirit of the Marzorati and Riva is always here. Cantù is one of those places where tradition feels, handed down for generations. One for everyone: Nonna Paola, 94 years old, has always subscribed, that cup of the champion cup won in Grenoble in 1983 still retains it with jealousy. The shirt last night, however, was not weighed, was an armor, light and inscalling. The atmosphere is goosebumps. Rimini in the third quarter came until +13. Then De Nicolao takes everyone by the hand, with Baldi Rossi: 23-3 partial, nothing is heard, only the cheering. It closes 85-80, the joy is no longer held.

tradition

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A circle closes for coach Nicola Brienza, Canturino Doc, a basketball son of his city, where he started playing minibasket, then training the youth team and where he had already been a head of the coach twice. He returned after three years in Pistoia, as a best coach of Serie A. with the Tuscans had eliminated Cantù two years ago, forcing her to try again, again. The coach was able to present the team at the most important moment in the best form. The injuries and the five defeats in a row between January and February have faded the coveted direct promotion, but from there the pressure became a stimulus. The victory of the Italian Cup in February was joy and awareness. “Rimini was exceptional. We were good, as in the whole series, to find more energies in the last quarter. We started saying that we had to go up and when you have to win it is never easy. It was not obvious, so thanks to the boys and this audience. We returned where we are used to being”, comments the coach with emotion. De Nicolao, Moraschini and Mcgee, with the star Grant Basile (MVP of the final) led a deep roster, with the courage to win: Valentini, Piccoli, Possamai, the Estonian Risma, the Captain Baldi Rossi, the long Hogue and Okeke. After suffering the comeback of Fortitudo in the quarterfinals, from 0-2 to 2-2, in the race-5 the cups were with the breath suspended. But that victory was brought home, Cantù was no longer stopped: 3-0 in Rieti in the semifinal, 3-0 in Rimini in the final.

future

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Yesterday’s feast had a long gestation: in February 2019 he had closed a turbulent passage, with the popular shareholding company all together Cantù, which took over the club from the previous owner Gerasimenko, first in Italy. Cantù has always been his people. In 2021 the relegation, a blow to the heart. Getting back was not that easy, on the most beautiful in the past seasons something had always been missing. Last night there was everything: also the tension, but above all the strength of the team. It will be a return to the future for Cantù: a modern reality, strong thanks to the entrepreneurial excellence of the area, with a vision. The new Arena, which will collect the moral legacy of the legendary Pianella, proceeds, if everything goes according to the plans it will be inaugurated in October 2026, ready for the 2026/2027 season: a 5200 -seat multifunctional structure, company museum, bars, offices, training camp. Here is the future.