DANILOVIC: IN LIFE AND BASKET, IT CONTAINS SIMPLICITY, BUT TO REACH IT IS COMPLICATED.

On the occasion of Davide Moretti’s second season in NCAA, the “Give & Go” section becomes international.
In fact, after the first season during which the site www.davidemoretti.it could count on many important contributions (Valerio Bianchini, Gianluca Basile, Antonello Riva, Mario Boni, Franco Marcelletti, Angelo Costa, Giorgio Pomponi), this year space for international basketball men.
On the occasion of the first episode 2018/2019, the site has the honor of hosting Predrag “Sasha” Danilovic, unforgettable champion of basketball today at the helm of the Basketball Federation of Serbia, who also played in the NBA and that in Virtus Bologna was a teammate of Davide’s father, Paolo Moretti.

We interviewed him by telephone, thanks to the journalist Luca Maggitti.

Sasha Danilovic, a great champion who has been able to pass from the field to the management …
«I’m President of the Serbia Basketball Federation – in December it will be 2 years – after my 15 years as a manager at Partizan Belgrade. Compared to the role I had in the club, this has a greater responsibility when dealing with the entire basketball movement: masculine, feminine, youthful. However, I must say that in some ways it is easier, because I have a staff composed of very good collaborators, whom I have known for 20 years and who do an excellent job, facilitating my task».

What did he try to be the president of the club that made him grow and then launched him to the top in the basketball world, Partizan Belgrade?
«Partizan was the reason why I came from Sarajevo. It’s part of my family. It’s a very intimate thing I would say, and it will always be like that even if I’m no longer in the club’s leadership. The emotion will always be that».

How did you experience foreign experience in Italy, at Virtus Bologna, in two stages – but always a big star – before and after the NBA experience?
«I lived it as the best years of my life. Apart from the births of my children, those are for me the best years of my life, without any doubt».

Even higher than the years in the NBA?
«Sure! The NBA is a perfect world, only I never liked American life. If I had gone to 22 years maybe I would have stayed there, but no. Instead Italy is my second country and Bologna is my second city».

So for quality of life she preferred Italy to America. And what about basketball?
«Well, it was much easier for me to play in the NBA than in Europe. I’ll explain. In NBA there are precise rules and you have your job to do. I was the shooting guard and I did not suffer doubles like in Europe, where maybe even three players mark you. In short: for me it was easier. And then I was lucky enough to play with old school athletes, people I had pictured in the posters I kept hanging in my room. However, to conclude the reasoning, Italy remains the best period of my life: both in terms of basketball and everything else».

What are the difficulties faced by a player who accepts the challenge in a different world, compared to his own life and play habits? I ask this also thinking of Davide Moretti, who has chosen to compete with NCAA basketball …
«We must not compare. I am against comparing things. When you face a new challenge, you know that the difficulties will always be there, but you must not give up».

And what is the secret to not giving up?
«Very simple: train well. I’m serious. Things must not be complicated. For example, when I arrived in Italy I had a longing for Belgrade. And how did I drive her away? Training me very well».

Said so it seems simple …
«Getting to simplicity is very complicated».

Phrase to print and frame in all gyms …
«But it is so. When I watched Maradona or Van Basten play football, I thought: hell, but I could do it too! But no, it was very complicated … only that they, with the class they had, made it seem very simple. So I repeat: to reach simplicity, the road is very complicated, but we must strive for simplicity, in life as in basketball. Because however complicated things are, in the end there is always a true answer made of a yes or a no».

Danilovic and the future?
«I do not make plans, I’ve never done them like I do not do long-term programs. I’m very happy with what I’m doing. My mandate is four years, then we will see».

We close with a tip from her to Davide Moretti, son of art of his friend and former teammate Paolo …
«To Davide I say that he must train well, do not do the phenomenon and above all listen to his father’s advice. Believe me, it’s all here. Let’s go back to the concept of simplicity: the rest does not count for anything. Train well, have a lot of courage and remember – when he meets players much bigger than him – that the ball is still round and you have to throw it inside».

Predrag “Sasha” Danilovic
Former athlete.
President of the Serbia Basketball Federation.
PALMARES
Gold Medal at the 1988 European Junior Championship with Yugoslavia.
Winner of the 1988/1989 Korac Cup with Partizan Belgrade.
Winner of the 1989 Yugoslavia Cup with Partizan Belgrade.
Gold Medal at the 1989 European Championship with Yugoslavia.
Gold Medal at the 1991 European Championship with Yugoslavia.
Champion of Yugoslavia 1991/1992 with Partizan Belgrade.
Winner of the Euroleague 1991/1992 with Partizan Belgrade.
Winner of the 1992 Yugoslavian Cup with Partizan Belgrade.
MVP of the Final Four of Euroleague 1992.
Campione d’Italia 1992/1993 with Virtus Bologna.
Campione d’Italia 1993/1994 with Virtus Bologna.
Campione d’Italia 1994/1995 with Virtus Bologna.
Gold Medal at the 1995 European Championship with Yugoslavia.
Silver Medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics with Yugoslavia.
Gold Medal at the 1997 European Championship with Yugoslavia.
Campione d’Italia 1997/1998 with Virtus Bologna.
Winner of the Euroleague 1997/1998 with Virtus Bologna.
Mister Europa Player of the Year 1998.
MVP of the Serie A Championship 1998.
Winner of the 1999 Italian Cup with Virtus Bologna.
Bronze Medal at the 1999 European Championship with Yugoslavia.

THE SEASON OF CONFIRMS

Last week of summer in Roseto for Davide Moretti, he will be back in the other part of the world on August 24th – in Lubbock, Texas, United States – to start his second NCAA season with the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

A season that seems to be really challenging, after that the Freshman season brought the best season in 95 years of history, with coach Beard’s team in the Elite Eight college in the country (and so in the world).

Moretti, eating some seafood pasta (which is a big fan of it), makes the point starting from the historical achievement of last season: “Have been celebrated from the students of your university, which are you fans as well, it has been emotional and gratifying. Our team made History, letting 33 thousand of students be proud of their University. In short: we made them happy and proud and they have showed us their love”.
Davide made a great Academic year as well, pursuing his studies: “It’s been a calculated decision, since I may graduate in 3 instead of 4 years, and have my last year of college only to play basketball. I need to thank my Academic advisor (Coach Ski), which helped me to attend the double of hours that you usually do in one year”.

What’s in the past remain in the past, and Moretti looks forward: “Since the first day we got back, 10 days after the NCAA tournament ended, we know that this next year has to be better. Coach Beard told us clearly: after we finished in the Elite Eight, we need to target the Final Four, don’t be satisfied in anyway. I think it’s the right mindset and it’s also because of the coach that I have chosen this college”.

During this second year we should see Davide Moretti minutes and responsibilities grow. This guy knows it and he says: “ During all my second years, in all my past experiences, in Pistoia and Treviso, I have always had a kind of “step up year”. My dad – and I agree with him – says that I always needed a year, sometimes less, to adapt and understand how things go. I hope that my next year will be better than the first one. It’s on me to be ready when the opportunities will arrive”.

The goal is always the same: work hard with modesty, to have one day the opportunity to play in the NBA

EUROBASKET U20: EIGHTH PLACE FOR ITALY.

The Italian U20 National Team finishes its European Championship, in eighth position, after the most thunderous defeat in this event, in the useless ending with Spain (85-60) which was worth the seventh place.

After a balanced 39 minutes, Saturday’s match against Turkey also had a bitter ending; in one of the races between the disappointed teams from the quarter-final play-offs, the Azzurri lose their heads in the last minute, defeating all efforts made up to that point with an intentional foul and a technician cynically capitalized by the Turks, who made the hostilities of a beautiful and well-played match closed.

Difficult to analyze the individual and the whole group, after these championships that will be the last appearance in the youth championships for boys born in 1998, they remain compliments because in previous international competitions, this group has always shown character, personality, individuality and obtained excellent results.

STOP AGAINST CROATIA

The European U20 Championship is closed at the quarter-finals.

The dream of a medal is shattered on the Croatian wall that was within the reach of a group (born in the 1998) that has had an important youth career, with a silver medal at the U19 World Championships, a Bronze medal at the U18 Europeans and a bronze at the Mannheim tournament.

Croatia dominates the first (23-13), but especially the last quarter, which with the partial of 23-10 lengthens and closes without concern with the score of 79-68, a game that until the 30th was still in balance.

Very bad the defense protect the basket, and the defensive rebound.

Still Oxilia with 14 and Moretti with 13 the best scorers.

On Saturday, the Dalmasson team will play for the best possible placing from the fifth to the eighth position, after friday’s rest day.

VICTORY AGAINST GREECE, CROATIA ARRIVES.

The National Team U20 of coach Dalmasson, defeated 76-70 Greece landing in the quarter-finals of the continental tournament, in a very balanced race, despite the hardness sometimes even beautiful.

Hard battle, dirty and rough game, where the greatest merit of the Azzurri was not to get nervous, along with the ability to pull the free with a good percentage (28/35)!

Tommy Oxilia with 16 and Davide Moretti with 15 the best scorers for Italy, that Thursday 19 July at 15.45 will play the access to the best four of the event against Croatia, unbeaten until today.

VICTORY AGAINST ICELAND, GREECE ARRIVES.

Closed the qualifying group with a clear victory over the little Iceland for 81-56 (Mezzanotte 14, Antelli 12), the Italian national U20, after a day rest, will play against the tough Greece on Wednesday at 15.45, third in Group C, defeated exit in the match for second place with Israel.

A clash immediately very hard on a path that is not easy, if you think that on the way to the final, in the quarterfinals there will probably be the favored Croatia, and from that part of the board everyone expects the hosts of Germany, almost certainly already ‘seated in the armchair of the semi-finals already comfortable and loaded, supported by the home fans.

The feeling, however, is that the forecast is not so obvious, many experts see at least six, eight teams equipped to get to the end, in a year that has seen French talent dominate in many international events, in this kermesse the stars Ntikilina and Tilli are off, leaving the possibility of final victory to all the other participants in the contest.

ITALY KO AGAINST SERBIA, MORETTI 29 POINTS.

Serbia won the crucial game for the first place in Group D, after a splendid and thrilling race ended 79-78, after the final siren, a shot out of balance Lever goes out on the iron.

The game is developed for all its forty minutes on the edge of a great balance, 18-19 / 40-37 / 58-59 / 78-79 the partial, with Moretti in the great evening, a real blade on the side of the Serbian defense, which puts 29 personal points, 4 triples out of 6 attempts, and 7 out of 7 from the f.t. line.

Tomorrow closes the group stage, when at 15.45 Italy of Dalmasson will challenge Iceland, still zero wins after two releases.

EUROPEO UNDER 20: ITALY, DEBUT WITH VICTORY.

In Chemnitz, in north-eastern Germany, in the Sassonia region, just a couple of hours drive from Prague, the European Under 20 Championships opened today, and Davide Moretti’s Italian national team inaugurated the event impacting Sweden at the 13.30 local time.

Excellent the first quarter, where the Coach Dalmasson’s boys created the gap then managed without too many worries until the end.

Especially at an offensive level, Italy has appeared very solid, with Lever dominating in to the paint and from the perimeter, putting two triples and 27 personal points on the final call.

Wins the young Italy with the score of 85 – 71, which tomorrow will face Serbia at 20.15 in a match that already appears the decisive battle for the supremacy of group D of these fascinating Championships.

DAVIDE MORETTI CONVENED IN THE NATIONAL TEAM FOR THE FIRST TIME

Davide Moretti has been called up by coach Romeo Sacchetti for the men’s national rally that will take place in Rome, from 22nd to 26th May 2018, having been included in the list of 10 players chosen by the national coach.

For Davide it is the first call with Italy, after having done all the experiences in the national youth teams.

Davide, who returned to Italy yesterday to re-embrace his family, will start his new experience in Azzurro from tomorrow.

LIVING A DREAM

by Davide Moretti.

Sunday March 11th, on this date everything began. I remember that day like was yesterday, as a team we have been invited to watch the Selection Sunday show at the TopGolf, with all the Tech fans. As soon as we walked in, we saw the place full of red and black shirts screaming and cheering for us.

The show started and they announced our name after a couple of minutes, we were officially part of the 64 teams of the 2018 NCAA Tournament!

After that, everybody was praying and hoping for a good spot where to play the First and Second round. Obviously play in Dallas would have been awesome. They announced the first 4 spots in Dallas, but we weren’t in those 4. The show continued and hopefully they didn’t call our name. Finally time for the last 4 spots in Dallas: Florida and Saint Bonaventure first two, Texas Tech and Stephen F. Austin the other two! They gave us a 3rd seed, the highest ever given to our University.
I remember the fans went crazy and my teammate Andrew immediately grabbed me asking for my tickets. It was clear that Lubbock were heading to Dallas.
It was a special day, that rewarded in the right way our historic season.

We left two days before our first game.
Early flight, but what a flight! Private plane, paid from the NCAA.
An entire Aircraft only for us, I’m sorry, for our University. In fact on the back of our plane there were our cheerleaders, our music band, some fans and our entire staff, from the receptionist to the third training coach. Players and coaches had first class seats. Unfortunately the flight was only 45 minutes. Landed in Dallas, we headed to our personal bus, and our general manager handled us our customized room keys. “Davide Moretti, room 850, March Madness”.
Not bad! Especially because the hotel was a Hilton Honors.
I was used to share hotels with the other teams during this kind of events, such as European Championships, but this time was different, we probably had the biggest hotel in Dallas only for us.
Was time to get some shots up! So after lunch and couple hours of rest we were about to go practice at the American Airlines Arena, NBA arena of the Dallas Mavericks.
Pretty cool, isn’t it?
After 2 hours of open practice in front of 800 people, we went eat in a pretty fancy restaurant in downtown Dallas.

March 15th finally arrived, was a special day, not only because was gameday, but also because was my little brother 14th birthday and I couldn’t be more motivated.
Tip off was at 6.27pm, during gamedays I usually think for the previous 3/4 hours about the gameplan and how to perform the best, but that day, since I woke up, I couldn’t think anything else than our gameplan and how I should have played that game.
I was more nervous than normal, and the 18.703 people inside that huge NBA arena didn’t help me calm down at all, but right before my debut I took a big breathe in and I just ran into the court thinking to play my best.
I made my first field goal, a step back from behind the three point line, and in my mind I said: “Well.. This is not a bad start Davide!”
It probably was our most difficult game, I bet that most of my teammates were as nervous as me, but as they say: “Survive and Advance”, well we survived and we advanced.

March 16th was pretty much a preparation day. With the 12 hours rules that our coach taught us, we forgot pretty quick the game of the day before to focus on the next one.

March 17th gameday against Florida. Tough team, with really good players especially on the front court spots. It was a really good game, balanced till the last 2/3 minutes were we had a 10 points lead, but like I said they were a really tough team and they cut to a 3 points game, with 23 seconds left. They had 3 consecutive chances to tie the game and they missed all of whom.
I played a ordinary game, with no turnovers and an in and out 3 pointer, some good defensive plays, I was basically trying to make no mistakes.

I will remember forever while during a free throw, I was standing in the middle of the court, looking at that huge crowd and feeling those emotions like I have never felt before. I told myself: “Look where are you at now, just give your best”
I was scared, nervous, but I knew that myself would never have left me alone, I knew I was ready for that opportunity, all my sacrifices and practices prepared me to play in the biggest stage of that period: “The NCAA Tournament”

We were one of the SWEET 16 teams in the tournament!
We were heading to Boston in one week and Dallas treated as like superheroes, a full NBA arena with black and red jersey cheering for us, it was just unreal.

March 21st Boston bound!
Huge plane, bigger than the first one of last week. We also had more people traveling with us!!
Amazing hotel, amazing room as usual but I couldn’t think anything else of where I was going to practice and then play during the next days.
Obviously it would have been a NBA arena, but tie up my shoes at the TD Garden, on of the most historical NBA arenas, made it more special. I couldn’t wait to practice and then play there, I was literally freaking out.
We practiced there the 22nd for almost 2 hours, but I could keep practice for 2 more hours, I was way too hype.

March 23rd gameday against Purdue, a 2nd seed versus a 3rd seed, hands down it would have been a great game.
In my opinion, we literally controlled the entire game, we weren’t play our best basketball during the first half, but we ended up by 5 points. We maintained the lead throughout the end of the game, winning by 13. I probably played my best game, 7 points with 2 assists, no turnovers and good defensive plays.
But that night after our victory, it wasn’t my game or my stats made me feel so happy.
We won and that made us part of the Elite 8 teams in the country.
“The best record in the history of Texas Tech University” .. says everything by itself.
I couldn’t go to sleep that night, be part and help this team to reach the best record ever, paid back all the sacrifices and the struggles that I have been through.

March 24th I could only think about the next day and how special that day would have been, play for the Final Four on my birthday, it was just amazing.

March 25th gameday X birthday, I was about to play one of the most important game in my career so far, celebrating my birthday.
I was excited, like never before, but I was way too nervous as well.
All the country (and not only the US) was watching us. Tip off was at 1.20pm and we already knew that it would have been a sold out game. We played in front of almost 20.000 people, but this time the arena wasn’t full of red and black jersey.
We started the game as good as never before in the tournament, but they were a really good team and they ended the first half up by 13 points. They maintained a 10 points gap till the last minutes of the game, where we cut it to a 5 points game with 5 minutes to go. We gave everything we got, but Villanova deserved to win that night.
It wasn’t the best day, I wish I could celebrate my birthday in a better way, with one of the best present ever, but instead of fly to San Antonio, we flew back to Lubbock.
I still haven’t any regrets, I knew that I would have given everything I had that day, for me and for my team.

We came back right after the game, we landed at 1am and our amazing fans were there, thanking us for made them proud, it was unique.
Now everybody see us as legends, and this three weeks experience is something that I will remember for ever.

Moro