By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
He says being left out made him more determined than ever to make it back.
“Sometimes you just have to deal with the decisions the coach (Ettore Messina) makes. I said I respected the decision, for sure I was not happy about it but this is how life goes, you’re not happy with how things go for you but you still have to deal with it. I had a lot of motivation to get better. I had a tough summer of practicing. I’m happy to be back playing for my national team.”
As for his responsibilities under the Sacchetti, a long-time coach who is at the helm of Italy for the first time, Gentile said:
“I don’t know. Our coach is a new coach so he will give us the roles and everything so we will see. It’s not something you can say, ‘I will be this or I will be that.’ Sometimes you go onto the court and find out what the team needs from you and what you can be for the team, or bring to the team. I think it will come naturally on the court.”
Gentile, now on the books of Virtus Bologna, are returning to Turin, where they hosted and the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying tournament and lost in the Final to Croatia. Gentile, with all of his experience, could end up being one of Italy’s most important players in the Qualifiers.
He’s excited to go back to Turin to face Romania.
“It’s going to be nice to play at home. Last time we played in Turin, we didn’t have a good moment. We lost (our place) for the Olympics so we hope to give our fans a big win.
“The atmosphere was great. It was disappointing to let them down but this happens in sports. I hope the atmosphere will be the same and hopefully this time, we’ll win and this will give us the opportunity to give us a win to our fans.”
There won’t be a long training camp before the Romania game yet Italy should be fine.
“We’ve had many summers together. We played a lot of times together. We know each other. We do have a new coach so, we have to use our short time and get our things together really quickly, be really flexible and understand what the coach is asking from us in the short time.”
With the return of international windows during the domestic season, one benefit is that FIBA’s new competition system puts players first by reducing their workload, with the average reduction worldwide measured at 26%. The new format brings with it a significant scaling down of the preparation time required for qualifying games.
“For sure, in the summertime you have more time but during the season you are already in shape and you don’t need much time. It’s something new, for the coaches, the players, a new experience and we’ll find out.”
Gentile’s father, Fernando, and brother Stefano, represented Italy but neither made it to a World Cup or an Olympics.
“For my family, the national team is very important. My father never had a chance to play in a World Cup so it would be really amazing to reach this goal and to qualify.”
With Italy gearing up to face Romania and Croatia in November’s World Cup Qualifiers, Gentile is back in the squad now led by coach Romeo Sacchetti.
More than anything, Gentile is just happy to be back in the squad and returning to Turin.
“We need the support, the help of the fans and I hope the atmosphere will be great like it was the last time we played there.”
Source: fiba.basketball