The Italian 3x3 basketball national team is also a bit Cagliari-based, having earned a pass to the European Cup scheduled for September 5-7 in Copenhagen. Among the protagonists of the qualification achieved in Kosice, Slovakia, is Dario Zucca , a 29-year-old basketball player who grew up in the Esperia youth system and who also played in Serie A with Reyer Venezia.
The Italbasket has overcome a difficult path in the Europe Cup Qualifiers , achieving the goal at the end of an overtime battle against Montenegro (15-13), decisive for access to the final phase. Zucca was the best scorer for the Azzurri in the most important challenge, scoring 8 points.
The journey did not start in the best way: a heavy defeat in the debut against Germany (21-5), but then the Azzurri reacted with determination, beating Portugal 17-14 (4 points for the big man from Cagliari), Israel 19-14 (3 points) and only surrendering in the semi-final to Lithuania (21-16), another team that then qualified together with Germany.
A growing tournament for Italy and for Zucca, who confirms himself as a valuable pawn also in the “street” version of international basketball. After his basketball education in the capital and the years in Venice, the big man born in 1995 continued his career between Serie A2 and Serie B, closing the last season in Jesi with a place in the playoffs. Now, with the blue jersey, he is preparing to live a new European experience.
For Italy, which has been missing from the European 3x3 Championship since 2015, it will be a welcome return to the elite of continental basketball.
