Spurs/FIBA News: San Antonio joins forces with mens Sana
linkUSA - San Antonio joins forces with mens Sana
SIENA (Lega A) - The NBA has been plucking some of the finest talent from Europe for more than a decade with the San Antonio Spurs among the clubs to benefit.
Now the most cosmopolitan team in the league, which has Frenchman Tony Parker, Argentinian Emanuel Ginobili and Slovenians Rasho Nesterovic and Beno Udrih in the squad, has approached Italian champions Montepaschi Siena about moving forward together in partnership.
"The San Antonio Spurs have contacted the Biancoverde club to consider a collaboration in the future," said a statement on the Siena website,
menssanabasket.it.
"In the past few days, a letter signed by Sam Presti, director of player personnel at San Antonio Spurs, arrived at the club in which, apart from complimenting our team, says they have considered the idea that both clubs undertake a common path to reach different strategies, but all linked to basketball of the highest level.
"Mens Sana Basket has welcomed the proposal and has already opened the relevant channels to reach as soon as possible a collaboration with the
Spurs."
The talent-rich Spurs have the sensational Team USA star Tim Duncan, but the contributions of the foreigners - particularly Parker and Ginobili - are major factors in the success of the team.
They both shone two years ago when the Spurs captured the NBA crown, and not surprisingly, each was recently signed to long-term contracts.
Long before Ginobili was dazzling NBA audiences with his play, and before his MVP performance with gold medal winning Argentina at the Olympics, he was a star in Italy.
At Virtus Bologna, Ginobili hit the height of his fame when he led the team to glory at the Euroleague Final Four in Vitoria, Spain.
Montepaschi clearly see the Spurs' interest as recognition for their achievements.
Last year, coach Carlo Recalcati steered the team to their first-ever Italian title and into the Euroleague Final Four.
Siena general manager Ferdinando Minucci says he has already begun talks with the NBA giants.
"We are very proud," he said. "I've had a long chat with Presti and he has told me that he has heard a lot about us, about our projects and the great attention we put into our youth programmes.
"They have chosen us because they believe Siena has become a reality as a basketball force in Europe."
If the Spurs' interest adds to Mens Sana's prestige, the Italian club will give the Spurs a window to look at Europe, something that was confirmed by Minucci.
"Our main aim is to share the know-how of the two clubs and to use this collaboration to have a more in-depth knowledge of scouting in Europe," he said
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