Giulia Arturi, for Geas, will always be a name full of meaning. And history. He has worn the same shirt since the beginning of his career, giving Sesto San Giovanni simply everything. And today, after twenty years spent on the parquet, she is ready to face the last playoffs of her career, which will see her and her teammates on the pitch against Campobasso. We reached her for an interview in which there is basketball, yes, but not only.
What’s it like for you to get to the end?
“It’s been a long journey. All things have a beginning and an end, I’m enjoying these games, these playoffs. I’m happy, even though I will miss him a lot“.
And you enjoyed PalaNat’s embrace at the end of the regular season.
“It was very emotional, everyone celebrating with my closest friends, my past teammates. It gives you a bit of a measure of everything, it’s a bit of a sense of what I did“.
For you, 20 abundant years always wearing the Geas shirt. What made you never want to change?
“When I went up to A1 for the first time at twenty years old, then we spent 4-5 years in the top flight. Then when we went down to A3 the objective became to bring my team back to where it deserved to be. From there it was a new challenge every year. I’ve never had regrets, it was beautiful like that. Never bored! Every year a goal, and this pushed me. And it’s lucky to be able to build so much over all these years, to have the opportunity to do something in the place where you are“.
Of these years, which one was the most beautiful for you?
“This is the classic impossible question! The three promotions were wonderful, from A2 to A1. But also some years of A1, the Italian Cup final that we did in 2019. Choosing one in which to condense everything is difficult“.
Also because from each of them you can draw something happy, positive.
“Every year, every season, everything contributed to building bonds, relationships, experiences. Every year he has brought home something“.
What do you feel you have given to basketball in this journey?
“Basketball grew me as a person. Team sport gives you the sense of being with others, what it means to sacrifice, be generous, know how to interface with others, get somewhere. What did I give? Everything I had, physically and emotionally. I always put all my heart in the world into it. I have never held back“.
How do you experience this playoff series, knowing that it is the last one for you?
“Same as the others, like a playoff series. A little more special, yes, it will be hard to leave something I’ve done my whole life. A big change, but sooner or later it must be faced, at the right time. I experience them with great joy. The hope is to go as far as possible“.
Series with Campobasso which is the least obvious of all, given the teams close in terms of values.
“In the championship we lost both, but in the Italian Cup we won in the quarterfinals. All hard-fought, rough, difficult matches. It will be a good series. We will have to reverse the field factor, it will be an extra difficulty. And it won’t be easy, but we are ready to fight“.
With a team that has demonstrated many things this year, because it has united talents, both foreign and emerging.
“In the end it’s the work of two years, because so much of this group starts from afar. This year, in my opinion, we have improved compared to last in many things. In solidity, in constancy. Let’s face these playoffs on this“.
The striking thing about Geas every year is that in reality the two-year courses always seem continuous, almost multi-year with a continuous mandate.
“Real. There are many people who stay here for a while. With targeted changes you can take advantage of the fact that you have known each other for some time, which helps“.
How did you see the championship that has just finished the regular season also in reference to the previous ones?
“I’m talking about us, because compared to last year we often managed to play openly against the big league teams. I always see a good trio up front, but the playoffs are the playoffs. Every match was difficult, a really tough championship where you really had to prepare well and fight every Sunday“.
In fact, we have seen the fact that the teams most in difficulty at the beginning have recovered and improved, so as to show fewer and fewer clear results.
“I agree. Very tough, competitive championship“.
You’ve always wanted to combine something different, in this case journalistic activity, with what you did on the parquet. Was this a natural transition for you?
“Yes, since I stopped studying in 2015 I started working. Since 2018 I have been a professional journalist and I have pursued both paths. Then I favored basketball in A1 more because it is different to play in A1 and A2 from the point of view of time. I’ve been doing both things at the same time for 10 years now. I will finish with the parquet, I will continue with what I have built off the pitch“.
You have always had many collaborations started: you will be spoiled for choice.
“In reality, it won’t be so easy to roll up my sleeves and truly understand what my path is, without losing faith. So I will“.
Furthermore, you didn’t just deal with basketball.
“I also happened to do other things, I worked in many editorial offices. It’s not just basketball that I’m passionate about in sports. I like sport in general, as an enthusiast and from a professional point of view“.
Another impossible question. You have seen many strong players pass before your eyes, for many this is for example Zandalasini as a young player. Which ones have you seen that were the strongest for you?
“I would tell you Ticha Penicheiro, who played with us in the 2008-2009 season, and then Jazmon Gwathmey who is still here today“.
Gwathmey also brings to mind the period in which you had many injury problems, which however you overcame with the strength of the group, your main belief.
“Unfortunately, injuries have rarely left us alone. You still have to go out on the field and play. There are other resources available. If something is missing, we build with something else. It’s either this or nothing“.
Geas is often defined as a family environment. How much is true?
“The testimony is that many players remain here for several years: it is a place where people work well, and where players and people come and stay willingly“.
What relationship have you had with Cinzia Zanotti over all these years?
“We shared many years and experiences of all kinds. Now I don’t even know how long he’s been training me, it’s been a long time! We have gone through every experience: A1, A3, going up only with our own strength, we have done everything. This is something that will remain forever“.
Social curiosity: on Instagram you have a blue hat, which in English is cap. Exactly captain. How was it born?
“They all call me cap! Inevitably came the hat“.
Have they ever made you wear it in real life!
“No, no real cap! Virtual only“.
With what hopes did you begin your basketball journey and how much do you feel you have achieved?
“When I started playing I couldn’t have had so much hope. I was a little girl who enjoyed playing with the ball. I gradually understood what basketball was from a human point of view. And even if I had imagined something, it wouldn’t have been what happened, because it was all too beautiful, beyond my expectations“.
