Belinelli: “The Scudetto for Polonara is the cherry on the cake of my career. Retirement? Maybe”
BRESCIA. Leaving basketball like this , with the cup of the third personal championship (two with Virtus, in 2021 and 2025, and the other the first on the other side of Bologna of Fortitudo, in 2005) in a hand that also includes the ring of NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs (2014), could be the best epilogue for the extraordinary run, at 39 years old, of Marco Belinelli . A final act that recalls, also for the happy ending, that of two years ago of his friend Gigi Datome, who retired (with subsequent appendix to the World Cup with Italy) after the tricolor triumph in Game-7 of the final with the Olimpia Milano jersey. «It could be the icing on the cake of my career, maybe it's a goodbye, but give me a few days to think about it»
Bologna
Basketball, stop for Polonara: he has myeloid leukemia Matteo De Santis
“Beli”, so he’s retiring? «I want to wait before giving any definite news. I’m tired and I have nothing left to prove. Of course, finishing with another scudetto in the club where I started playing would make everything much more beautiful. Let’s see..»
What kind of scudetto is this? «Beautiful, also because in the previous four seasons we had fought like lions always until the final. Three times it didn't go well for us, but it seems like yesterday when I returned to Virtus from the NBA and we won at the first attempt. But this scudetto is fantastic also because it was won against Brescia, a great team coached wonderfully by my friend Peppe Poeta. And also for a reason that you can imagine..»
Are you referring to Achille Polonara? "Of course, there are more important things in life. We had to bring home this title for him. When we learned about Achi's leukemia, a few days ago, it was a big blow for all of us. But we know he's a fighter and he won't give up on anything: he wanted to win this championship and we brought it to him."
Dedicated to Achille Polonara, but also to the hard core of Virtus in recent years... «We wanted it at all costs. Me, Hackett and Paiola. In the past summers we had the regret of the three finals lost against Milan: but this summer, with the victory, will be beautiful for us, for the club, for Bologna and for all our fans».
But doesn't it make you want to continue? "Good question, but I still have some time to think about it. I have to evaluate many things and I will spend a few days with my family. I will wait before communicating my decision, even if this title really seems like the icing on the cake."
lastampa
