By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Apparently, Ettore Messina was so furious (and rightfully so, if we might add) with Danilo Gallinari’s irresponsible move which resulted in a right-hand fracture that rules him out of the EuroBasket, stating that he didn’t even want to talk with him following the incident.
“He (Gallinari) apologized. He was mortified. But I didn’t want to talk with him”, Messina said in an interview for Repubblica. “It’s difficult to explain concepts like loyalty and responsibility to a 30-year-old man”.
“It was a move that is unacceptable. An example of ‘do-it-yourself’ justice that repels me in society and in the sport,” Messina added.
The Clippers forward’s absence steals some major juice from the Italian national team tanks. “Galo” was the top performer of the “Azzurri” in the previous edition of the tournament (17.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game) in 2015, and was expected to be the main contributor, the on-court leader, for the upcoming one as well.
For Messina, his players can make up for Gallinari’s absence and overcome their problems by sticking together and building a stronger chemistry, on and off the floor.
“It (the team) will surely be lacking its talent. But sports are full of situations that are overturned by old concepts such as humility, cohesion. We want to overcome their limits (of these concepts).”