At the end of an incredible season of FSSI Italian deaf basketball championshipThe ENS Varese Sports Groupbranded MADY GIOreturns to the roof of Italy, winning the second tricolor in its history.
In fact, seven years have passed since the success of 2017, a period in which the team came close to achieving an encore three times. This season, however, the triumph arrived, crowning a journey that has its roots in a project that led to the inclusion of new young players in the team, who have guaranteed themselves a future in the Italian national deaf team. This investment allowed the kids to see their efforts and immense dedication materialize, finally achieving the goal for which they have fought for a long time.
The FSSI Italian basketball championship took place in the capital. The Varese team’s journey began on the right foot, dominating against the still inexperienced Genoa club and managing to obtain the coveted final which was staged with the PS Romana. The challenge we were lucky enough to witness was a no-holds-barred fight, stingy with baskets, but nevertheless full of emotions and capable of thrilling any spectator.
THE red and white they encounter the first difficulties in dealing with the speed and experience of the opposing duo Bovolenta-Larranaga, so much so that they arrive at half-time with the momentary score of 26-25. In the second half, however, Varese reacts strongly and manages to regain the lead: at the sound of the third siren the scoreboard scores 43-38. In the last quarter the real thing happens turning point and we find ourselves faced with the decisive moments of the match, with Varese trying in every way to impose itself on the Romans and definitively close the games but the Romans do not give up and manage to recover the disadvantage accumulated previously. It’s a real fight to the death which does not disappoint the expectations set on the eve and leads to an authentic heart-pounding finale. The specter of the fourth misstep hovers in the air, but the two triples from the Ukrainian Bukin and the splendid triple from Avellino definitively erase any doubts and lead the GS ENS Varese to victory of the second tricolor.
Finally for Varese, after a long time, the time has come to celebrate. During the awards Luca Pirovano he was elected Championship MVP and the Captain Sellari receives the Cup and raises it towards the sky as a symbol of the goals achieved by the team and as a sign of gratitude towards a city that has always supported its colors and has never stopped dreaming of this moment.
If for Varese it is time for celebrations, for seven players the journey does not end here: after a few days of well-deserved rest, they will wear the blue jersey to play the European Championships in Malaga (Spain) from 21 to 29 June. Even the GS ENS Varese season doesn’t end here, given that there is a long list of events on the calendar (like the Italian 3×3 Championship which will be held on July 7th in Brescia)including internationally renowned events such as the highly anticipated DIBF Eurocup 2024or the Champions Cup of deaf basketball, organized in Varese from 13 to 16 November 2024.
While waiting for the next commitments, the company does not shy away from thanking everyone the players who through hard work managed to obtain a prize that apparently seemed almost impossible and to earn the respect and affection of the whole city: Andrea Piras, Luca Pirovano, Dario Pignataro, Alessandro Bartoli, Sascha Silombela, Thomas Mantovani, Alessio Avellino, Luca Venturi, Serhii Bukin, Nicolas Sellari, Carlos Zocca, Tommaso Graziosi.
Also not to be forgotten is the precious work of coaches and managers who guided them on this difficult and intense but rewarding journey and who still continue to encourage them to achieve new missions: Dario Galbiati, Cristian Gnodi and Mauro Dori. This is just one first important stage of the journeybut the best is yet to come.
Miriam Maglione
Giorgia Vella
