Last night Boniciolli’s team met in Udine for another adventure. Among confirmations and new faces, the new American center also made its debut
udine
The curtain rises on the Apu Old Wild West 2021/22. The Juventus team kicked off the new season by gathering yesterday evening at Pizzikotto in Tavagnacco, one of the main sponsor’s venues, for a group dinner useful to re-embrace confirmed technicians and players and to welcome newcomers. Smiles and handshakes less than two months away from the final play-off with Napoli which for everyone represents an extra stimulus: there is a mad desire to start over to try again to complete the journey to the end, possibly with a different epilogue.
Between an auspicious toast and a few anecdotes about the holidays that just ended, there was time and a way to start cementing a work group determined to play a leading role. Coach Boniciolli’s charisma is the trait d’union between last season’s APU and the one that was just born. The attachment to the jersey and to the territory of Antonutti and Nobile, the first to act as Cicero for the new ones who try to settle in, are a precious added value in the path that must lead individuals to become a team. Backing them up are Pellegrino, now Friulian by adoption, Giuri and Italiano. Ebeling and Esposito are already a step forward, having spent the whole week before August 15th training at the Benedetti with the various Boniciolli, Sepulcri and Mazzilis. Cappelletti also arrived yesterday, the man who will have to give energy and phosphorus in the control room, and Walters: the center of Tennessee landed in Italy yesterday morning at 9 and in the afternoon he has already become familiar with the equipment of the Carnera sports hall before go to the evening group appointment. He is a decidedly different player from Nana Foulland, even in the physical as seen in the photo. Center of position should be more comfortable than his predecessor in playing outside the box because he also has a decent shot in his luggage. The field then, however, will reveal its strengths and weaknesses as always.
Today for the APU there are other appointments of this intense pre-season. In the morning, first round of medical examinations at Sanirad di Tricesimo followed by athletic tests at Carnera. In the afternoon, second round of medical examinations, then the first taste of training at the Rizzi sports hall. Tomorrow is the day of Trevor Lacey’s arrival in Friuli: disembarkation at the Venice airport at 9.20 and medical examinations at 14. of the first friendly test against Basket Mestre of the great ex Maurino Pinton.
The first official match is closer than it seems: already on 12 September in Mantua they will play for the two points, valid for the Super Cup in the A2 series, again this year in an extra-large format with 28 teams registered. The championship debut is set for 3 October, at Assigeco Piacenza. For that day the Juventus players will be polished, because it is clear to everyone that the goal of the club, the coaching staff and the team is to play a top championship. –