By Eurohoops team/info@eurohoops.net
Filloy is actually a native of Cordoba, Argentina and came to Italy in 2001. He secured an Italian passport and helped the country to a third-place finish at the FIBA U20 European Championship in 2007.
Just fast-forwarding a decade to this past summer isn’t quite fair for Filloy and the journey that brought him to the Azzurri at FIBA EuroBasket 2017.
In 2009, he helped Vanoli Cremona get promoted to the Italian top flight. After two more seasons in the SerieA2, Filloy spent one in the SerieA with Milano. He returned to the SerieA2 for another more campaign before latching on with top-flight side Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia with whom he captured the FIBA EuroChallenge crown in 2014. Two seasons with Pistoia followed and he then landed with Umana Reyer Venezia, guiding the club to a first Italian league championship since 1943 as well as reaching the inaugural Basketball Champions League Final Four last season.
That landed Filloy a berth in the training camp for Ettore Messina’s Italy side this past summer. He eventually earned a spot on the 12-player roster for FIBA EuroBasket 2017 and more than held his own in his first major tournament averaging 9.0 points, 2.1 assists and 2.0 rebounds. One of the biggest moments was his first game, Italy’s win over Israel.
“For sure, the first game was an important moment. After 40 days of working and preparing for the tournament, starting against the home team and winning was an important moment.”
The 6ft 3in (1.90m) playmaker – one of Italy’s five players 30 and older at Europe’s top basketball competition – valued the daily interaction that he got on and off the court with some of the country’s top players such as Marco Belinelli, Luigi Datome and Nico Melli.
“It was great to play with these important players and try to learn something from them. They were always positive and pushed all of us to do our best day by day.”
Filloy has excelled this season in his move to Basketball Champions League side Scandone Avellino, averaging 12.0 points, 2.3 assists and 1.5 rebounds in the pan-European club competition. And he is looking forward to a chance to make the Italy team again, being on the 16-player preliminary squad.
“I’m in the list and very excited to have the possibility of representing Italy again. I now need to wait if the coach selects me to be on the team.”
Regardless of whether or not he makes the team, the point guard is certain the Italian fans will come out for the World Cup Qualifier on November 24 against Romania in Turin.
“Italian fans are going to be supporting the national team like they always do.”
Italy’s second game of this first window will be on the road against Croatia on November 26. Filloy knows the team will be challenged as they look to advance.
“I’m sure all of the games will be difficult and tough. That is normal when you play in the World Cup Qualifiers.”
The qualification campaign isn’t just old hat for Italy, who have a sense of urgency as they look to play in their first FIBA Basketball World Cup since 2006 after missing out on Turkey 2010 and Spain 2014.
“Qualifying for a FIBA Basketball World Cup is really important. We didn’t play the last two World Cups, so we are waiting for these Qualifiers with much anticipation.”
The Avellino playmaker also goes into the Qualifiers with a major sense of responsibility.
“For me, the responsibility of playing with the national team was not something I expected just five months ago. So every time I have the possibility to put the Italia jersey on I will give my 100 percent.”
Making it to China 2019 would be something extra special for Filloy because of the possibility of facing off with his native Argentina.
“If that (qualifying for the World Cup) happens, I would be really happy,” he said. “For one, because Italy is in the competition and so am I. And second, my friends and family who live in Argentina would certainly watch the game.”
Source: FIBA.basketball