By Xavi Sentís
Michele Gherardini (Sports Marketing Coordinador of Adidas Group) is part of the staff that organizes the Eurocamp of Treviso. His father Maurizio was named new director after former Lithuanian player Arturas Karnisovas left the position. We are approaching the event (June 7th-9th) and we talked with him to know his thoughts.
-This year Maurizio Gherardini will be back as Eurocamp Director, what does it mean for Eurocamp organization?
Maurizio is the person who created this event and ran it since the very beginning. He always worked behind the scene all these years so having him on board is not really anything new but only the guarantee of the quality of what we are trying to put together at the Eurocamp.
-In the schedules, will be there some games against European Youth National teams or, maybe against other "externals" teams?
So far France is the only european NT being confirmed at the Eurocamp: we still hope to add another european NT before the camp starts. We will also have an adidas US team as well.
-The dates of the Eurocamp coincide with dates of some playoffs in local leagues, how will affect this fact to the final rosters?
There will never be a time that allows you to match all the different league schedules and, when you think it’s the "right time" you end up facing the international schedules for NT as well. We have the need to keep the event 2/3 weeks away from the NBA Draft and actually our window is not too wide. We always try to work on the best possible compromise.
-Talking about the players who will play in, do you have any outstanding reject or confirmation? Dou you think it will be a good level this year?
We hope to have a better understanding of the players attending the camp in a couple of weeks. The Eurocamp will always have a good talent level and even if there could be expectable defections the Eurocamp has always been the ideal stage for "surprises" that have turned into real NBA players. Once again the show-case will be massive as well as the people who will be in attendance.
-How do you value the Karnisovas stage as a Director of Eurocamp?
Arturas was a great contributor to the growth of the camp thanks to his knowledge, his enthusiasm and his connections. He will be missed but we hope he will be watching on the side and be part of the event anyhow.
-Bill Bayno will continue as a Coaching Director, which is the relationship with him after two years working together?
Bill Bayno has been connected with the Eurocamp since the very beginning, over 10 years ago. He has been the ideal link among all the quality coaches that have attended our event through all these years and we feel we could not have a better coach and person to organize and direct the staff work.
Twitter of the author: @garden7613
