Between past and present. Scarone relives the final: "Rimini, the public will help you win"

It was him who set the Flaminio on fire and dragged an entire city along in that May of 1997. Twenty-eight years ago, the Rimini basketball team won promotion to Serie A for the last time and the star on the court, above all, was German Scarone . His Koncret, led on the bench by Piero Bucchi and starting out with no pretensions at the beginning of the year, defeated all the competition and played perfect playoffs, without losing a single game. A record of 23 wins and 9 losses in the regular season, a clean run from then on with a fantastic 6-0 in the playoffs. It was 3-0 against Caserta and 3-0 against Montecatini, a triumphant finale.

Scarone, today that Rbr is preparing to play another final for the Serie A since that last time, do you feel the same enthusiasm in the city as then? "Absolutely yes, it is palpable. You can feel it around, there is enormous enthusiasm and it is beautiful like this. People can't wait for this final to arrive, the fire has never completely gone out and now it is back alive. It will be a great series of finals".

What analogies do you see with the glorious 1996-1997 season? "Well, it depends on the moment. At the beginning of that year the odds were certainly not on our side. Rimini was coming off the burning final lost against Venice in game 5 and the scenario was certainly not that of a promotion at the end of the season. I still remember that Superbasket, before the start, had given us a 4.5 in the report card. Then one detail, the stands behind the baskets were in fact non-existent, they were folded up. There was no need".

Then during the year the situation changed… "We went from 3-400 spectators in the first matches to 3-400 waiting outside in the final stages, when the Flaminio was packed to the rafters and you couldn't get in anymore. A great growth, the result of a fantastic journey".

When did you realize that you had become one with the city and that you could aspire to promotion to Serie A? "As the weeks went by, with the mix between us players and with the victories. We were a young group, with two foreigners like Wylie and Chandler, who we were able to integrate well and who gave us a big hand under the basket. We involved them, making them feel part of the city as well as the team".

And the two lent a visible hand. But the one who took center stage was a young star, 22-year-old Scarone… "Yes, I played well (laughs, ed.). Let's say that the final with Montecatini started in the best possible way, with a decisive basket of mine in overtime in game 1. I've always liked taking on that kind of responsibility. Then we won the other two games a little more clearly and the party began, unforgettable".

How do you see the current final between RivieraBanca Rimini and Acqua San Bernardo Cantù? "Two important teams are facing each other and I hope that the home field advantage can help Rbr. The team has had a decline during the year but that's normal and, having already gone through a moment like this, can give you that armor and help you in difficult moments. I hope that they can be beautiful sporting battles".