Luca Magni has done it again. The president of the sports doctors’ association of our province has won the most prestigious medal at the Fimba Maxibasket European Championship, Over 60 category. Wearing the jersey of Italy Fimba, the 63-year-old was the protagonist – together with his teammates – of another masterpiece. In Pesaro, the Azzurri prevailed in the final of the tournament against Serbia, who were literally demolished, as can be seen from the result at 40′. At the final siren, the scoreboard read 83-55, with the Italians making the decisive run already in the second period of the game, after a balanced first fraction. Magni remained on the parquet for almost 10 minutes, scoring 4 points. For the owner of the Medical Sport of via del Castagno, it was a splendid revenge after the bitter taste of a year ago, when the Italian Fimba selection stopped in third place at the European Championship played in Albufeira. In this edition of the event, however, the Azzurri left no escape for their opponents. Since the group stage, which ended with two victories in two as many matches against Austria and Lithuania. Then in the round of 16 came the success against Spain, which allowed Magni and his teammates to qualify for the quarterfinals, where they were awaited by the Maxibasket Milano team, which in 2023 had prevented them from getting the pass to the European final. A real revenge, which on this occasion saw Italy prevail with a score of 51-35. The semifinal with Slovenia was very tight, which really gave the team trained by coach Maurizio Benatti a hard time. But in the end it was the Azzurri who prevailed by 71-66. Finally, here is the triumph over Serbia, which meant a gold medal. The second on a personal level for Magni, after the one achieved two years ago in Malaga. In his career, the ‘Doc’ boasts – in addition to the aforementioned bronze from 12 months ago – also a silver at the 2017 World Championship with the Over 55s. And the taximeter does not seem to want to stop at all, given that Magni has no intention of hanging up his boots any time soon, but will continue as long as “my body supports me and I have the passion”.
Francis Bocchini
