From father to son, John Ebeling on “Tatu”: “With Udine he only won the first trophy”

The star of Italian basketball in the 80s on Michele, Apu and the past: “What a challenge with the giant King at Carnera, it was another basketball”

UDINE. In the footsteps of the father. Michele Ebeling, for all “Tatu”, has just won his first trophy as a senior with the Apu shirt and made his father John happy, who in Italy made sparks in the 80s with the uniforms of Ferrara and Florence, as well as finding the woman of his life and starting a family. John Ebeling, now 62, lives in Ferrara and has five children (Michele is the third son).

For a long time he was the manager of the Este team, now he enjoys basketball from the outside, giving some dispassionate opinion to those who ask him, waiting for a new opportunity. In the meantime, we joined him to talk about basketball: the current one of his son and the one that saw him protagonist forty years ago.

Ebeling, did you see the Italian Cup final between Udine and Cantù?

“Yes, I saw her on TV. Earlier, looking at the rosters of the two teams, I thought it was going to be a battle. In the end, the strongest team won. The work Boniciolli is doing together with Martelossi is excellent ».

It is the first senior trophy for his son Michele. Proud?

“Yes, and let’s hope it’s not the last! I am so proud for a thousand reasons. “Tatu” came out of a long injury, he worked hard and deserved this joy. I have undergone five operations in my career and I know it takes time to get back to the old ones. Boniciolli who wanted it and waited for it ».

What did you think in the summer when the APU focused on your son?

«He was healed but he had not yet returned to the field at a certain level. Matteo and I (Boniciolli, ed) talked, on a professional level there is a lot of respect. He asked me how Michele was and chose to take him as a team. I immediately thought that Udine would be the perfect place for my son, as a coach, as an environment and as goals ».

What does Michele tell you about coach Boniciolli?

«He is happy. He struggled in the beginning, he had a certain lack of post-op confidence. Matteo is someone who says things to his face and “Tatu” appreciates this very much: if you have the trust of your coach and your teammates, you throw yourself into the fire for them ».

Are you convinced of Michele’s tactical transformation?

“Yup. As a child he always played away from the basket. Now that he is 2.05 tall he cannot play from “4” at a high level, he has become a very flexible all-around tactically. He has shot from outside and can mark all the little ones ».

Will we see her at Carnera?

«I came to Udine in January for the match against Treviglio, I’ll be back as soon as possible».

What is the difference between the A2 of your time and this one?

“It’s a different basketball. In my day, more money was invested in foreigners, who had more responsibilities. There was the unwritten rule that if an American fails three games in a row, he gets cut. One thing is certain: the foreigners at the time were stronger, today I don’t see a JJ Anderson in A2 ».

Do you remember the matches in Friuli against Udine and Gorizia?

«I remember the challenges against the colossus Winfred King. I marked him, he was very strong and a bit crazy ».

Is it true that you were one step away from Gorizia?

«Yes, there was Mario De Sisti, coach and friend of the family. But then I didn’t quite understand why everything was blown up ».

Is your son’s beard a habit or is it in his honor?

“I don’t think it’s in my honor (laughs). “Tatu” is a boy with a personality of his own, he has toured Italy with a heavy surname, but now he has understood how to live with the pressure of the sons of art ».

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