Michele Vitali to Basket Zone: “Reggio Emilia is home, I want to continue here. Galloway exceptional, coach Priftis good”

Michele Vitali he is 33 years old, born in 1991, captain of the Reggiana and is in his second year at UnaHotels. The coaching team Priftis this season she has been a loose cannon from the start of the championship until now and is aiming for an important place in the playoffs after reaching the Italian Cup. Vitali retraces his years in Reggio but also those around theItaly and theEurope always with the blue of National as a backdrop.

There was a period of the season of Reggio Emilia in which the PalaBigi was a fort: anyone passing through via Guasco would have to deal with the famous 6th man. Is there an explanation?

Yes, it certainly stood out a lot because above all it was the close matches, we were good at making even more of a group and resetting after each match. Playing at home, we also won perhaps against big teams such as the victory over Virtus, or Venezia and the following Tuesday. We immediately thought about the following Sunday, the same after a heavy defeat away. There was never that post-defeat elation or depression, there was a ‘let’s think about the next match’ and in my opinion this was a very important step in our season”

It arrives at the beginning of the season Coach Priftishow is your relationship with him?

He needs no introduction because what he has achieved in his career speaks for him. Personally, I’m very happy with it. He is very clear in what he wants, he is demanding, he knows how to touch the right buttons, which is fundamental for a coach. He requires maximum concentration, maximum commitment and in my opinion it shows. He conveys this message to you. Then basketball is a sport made of mistakes and therefore you can’t make things perfect, it’s clear, but there is the search for perfection. However, what makes the difference is how you react to the mistake and that’s what he tries to convey. The confidence to move forward despite a mistake. Priftis has shown that he knows how to guide us in the right way”

Another important purchase this season, not on the bench, but on the pitch, is Langston Galloway: how do you play with a champion like that?

Everyone sees the player he is, I don’t have to be the one to say it. He is an exceptional person who has adapted in every way, both in the locker room and on the pitch, he has an incredible availability towards everyone, a word of comfort towards everyone, in a difficult moment but also in a good moment. And he is an altruist. To talk about the type of player, I couldn’t find the right words for you because it’s not even right for me to speak, because he speaks what he does. But I can tell you the kind of partner he is: and he’s exceptional. Finding a person and a player who makes himself so available in his first year outside America after the career he has had is something extraordinary.”

Michele Vitali he is in his 2nd year at Reggio Emilia. He has never been in the same place for more than 2 years, he would like to stay there Reggiana a 3rd year?

I hope so because I’m grateful to be here and I’m very well. For me it is an honor to also be captain and I sincerely hope to be able to continue on this path. We work well, the club gives us everything to perform, to do well, so I hope so”

2024year Olympic. Vital was part of the expedition of Pre Olympic Belgrade and then of that of Games in Tokyo. What was that experience like?

Something unique because of how it arrived, you win the pre-Olympic in Serbia and even though it was a particular Olympics because it was closed to the public, it’s something that stays with you deeply, just talking about it moves me. We were a great group, as it still is I think you can see. We enjoyed it, we came close to doing something incredible but in my opinion it was the beginning of a journey that is taking the Italian national team to very important levels”