It is necessary to regain credibility and investors according to Stefano Fini
SIENA. The future of Siena basketball. Title of three words and each of these opens up vast, interesting, current worlds. I believe that in this difficult historical moment in the life of humanity, the future is one of the things that worries us most, it has never been so uncertain and complicated. Basketball is also experiencing one of the worst moments in its history. The Italian one is in the “silence of the dead”, or almost, and seems to suffer from the old age and ailments of its president and despite having two/three important entrepreneurial names in the League A to give prestige to it (Armani, Segafredo, Umana) these do not give either push nor glory; worst moment even for the one overseas, even if the reasons are of a different nature. We know that the Sienese has been in crisis ever since his bank was in crisis and now all of Siena will have to do without it and few show that they know how to do without it. Even in the sporting context, including basketball, we see it.
This season has given many the idea of a revival of the Sienese movement thanks to an interregional Virtus in B with an ambitious team, thanks to a dominant Costone in C with passion & money from the Montomoli family, and thanks above all to that flame of support mensanino found after the spin-off. But how should we read and interpret all this; and what prospects can it have?
In the youth sector the three clubs are well engaged. The math and numbers add up for everyone. The movement starting from mini basketball has overcome the past crises suffered as a result. Humus is, and always has been, good. But let’s remember that even in the youth sectors we have new dynamics to follow (new training and involvement techniques). Senior basketball, at a certain level, the one rightly wanted and dreamed of by the market, requires substantial economic resources that can be achieved with interesting projects and engaging sellers. The Siena brand must regain credibility and, consequently, investors. But are these looked for? Whoever did it, see Pistoia, found them; even abroad, in America. Is there this desire in Siena? Those who have tried in past seasons have been severely hindered. The three Sienese clubs currently have the same maximum objective: to reach the national Serie B.
Of the three, the one most ready to reach such a goal seemed to be Virtus Siena which inherited from the latest Mens Sana events the interest (sponsor) for Maurizio Sani’s basketball (Stosa). Ready also because it had spent money on the market showing that the current interregional B should have only been a transit station. This was not the case; it may be next year but little changes. The Virtus in its dimensions is a gem but we don’t see it ready and structured for greater levels. We measured the catchment area at PalaCorsoni, Siena is a city of Contrade and membership cannot be changed; Basketball Siena has already indicated the affiliations between Mens Sana, Virtus and Costone. What should be the future of Virtus: the youth championships won in the golden years of Siena basketball should represent a work and planning objective, other objectives would be deviant and of little sense but at the moment they will be the ones sought, the B series.
Costone will reach the inter-regional B in the short future and we believe it has the conditions to aspire and reach the maximum mentioned above, the B series: arena (Montarioso), sponsor (Vismederi) and the right ambitions of the very president Emanuele Montomoli. The rest is to be researched or non-existent. The historical figures of this society are linked to logics that are no longer contemporary. We verified the catchment area in this season of historic peak in performance: a few hundred people. What should be the future of the Costone? For some time they have had a women’s team that is at a reasonable level, this season it reached the play-off quarter-finals of Serie B. Costone should give this city a women’s team that reaches the highest national levels. The future, even in sport, sees women as increasingly protagonists. The Siena of basketball dressed in pink is waiting to be discovered, taken in and passionate about. There is material to work with but in a professional and planned way. We would see President Montomoli doing well in this role even if, in the future that we will live and see, he will settle for a men’s Serie B as the (not cheap) goal.
Mens Sana Basketball has worked well on its image and communication this season. It has been able to leverage and make the most of its internal, historical values: methods of work and involvement, which lead to a yield in the field of over 110%. He still gave this city the only great emotions of this season. It cannot be otherwise because it is the only one that transmits such a strong and indelible faith of belonging, because it is the only one that can bring 1500 people to the building even in a Serie C, fifth national championship. And its user base is not limited to the number mentioned above because a greater number with a green-white heart until death will return when they see it at the levels that compete with it. It is the only one to also have supporters in other cities and abroad (as was verified when the popular rescue was carried out). The Mens Sana derbies are not to be considered those against Costone and Virtus; those against Pistoia, Livorno are in numbers and in history… and we all know what the great challenges, outside the walls and borders, were… so the future can only take all this into account. Mens Sana has the problem of finding the person who will make it beautiful in its world with the potential it needs… and not vice versa, people who want to make themselves beautiful with Mens Sana. At the moment, however, he dreams of Serie B as his goal.
Stefano Fini
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