The president is embittered by the final match against Napoli, according to him conditioned by the direction of the match. “We have a strong team that can win immediately and open a cycle of victories for Friuli”
UDINE. The day after his team’s defeat in the Coppa Italia final, the president of the Apu Old West, Alessandro Pedone, is a mix of anger and pride. In between, a certainty: the high-level basketball project in Udine comes out greatly strengthened by the adventure of Cervia.
President why the anger?
«I don’t like looking for excuses, a team as strong as Napoli has won, but I’ll never know if it was actually the strongest. The more the hours go by, the more I can’t get out of my head that final match conditioned by the referees ».
Even?
«Yes, we have already sent an official protest to the Fip and the Lega with an accurate video dossier, at a certain point the referee meter changed, the blows were allowed to our opponents. Parks for that elbow was sent off, on Italian, in one of the decisive actions, an absurd foul in attack was whistled with consequent technical in Boniciolli, when a more vehement protest than Marino a few minutes earlier had been ignored. Then Johnson was beaten badly: we would like to enjoy a national silver, a bitter aftertaste remains ».
President, Naples seemed to have more in the final though …
«Yes but … Iannuzzi often blocked Majo beyond the rules, have you seen that?».
Come on Pedone, but your team made a great impression.
“True. He proved he could play with anyone and was a real preview of the playoffs. We are a battleship with a new footprint: three young people like Mobio, Schina and Deangeli and five players from the region. This team has a future and has proven to be able to win when until a year ago they went out straight away or didn’t even rank in the Cup ».
What are you most proud of?
“Consideration. Of the teams of the last 5 years I have kept only one osteopath Antonutti and Nobile, yet we have climbed the rankings of consideration. We are opening a cycle with Udine which is seen as a winning place. We took off that self-referentiality that accompanied us and we earned it with a team that talks on the pitch. Despite the Covid, the accidents in bursts, the absence of the public. We will try to win the Cup again ».
Boniciolli, from shaky in late January to magician?
«Boniciolli was a“ shaky magician ”, but I have great elective affinity with the coach whom I resemble temperamentally. This year I have not listened to anyone, I have done what I do in the company: I have given confidence, sure of the work he was doing and of the consideration that the team has for him. This time I was the only one to decide and I was right and Boniciolli only has a team in hand to improve for the future. But now let’s focus on a great season finale and something will come from the market too, maybe a wing. We can win in the present or in the immediate future ».
Some name: Schina?
«In the Trieste tradition of Pozzecco he is a great play in coming. Immediate objective: to negotiate his stay in Friuli with Trieste and Monfalcone to grow with us ».
Mobio and Deangeli?
“The slaps of the coach helped, thanks to the coach for having accepted my advice to trust them.”
Foulland?
“Old-fashioned center, which got excited when the stakes went up.”
Johnson?
“The first American leader we have, selfless. With the return of Amato he will have more freedom in attack and will score more, you will see ».
Do you swear?
«I put him with a suitcase in my hand and he showed me character and class: congratulations. All shut up, first of all myself ».
There was still Old Wild West CEO Marco Di Giusto next to her to suffer in the stands on Sunday. Is the future of the APU secured?
«The fans, who missed a lot in the Cup and who, I am convinced, would have rivaled the Neapolitans in terms of decibels at the sports hall, must rest assured. My friend and main sponsor Di Giusto and also Ritossa di Zafiro are by my side. We are feeling behind us the passion of an entire city and of Friuli.