A triumph of young basketball enthusiasts who, on Sunday 15 December, had the opportunity to chase the American dream of wearing the shirt of one of the teams entered in the NBA championship.
The PalaPaliaga of Monfalcone in fact hosted the Jr.NBA Fip FVG Draft for the 2024/2025 sports year for the pairing of the regional men’s and women’s teams registered in the relevant championships of the Under 13 category of the Italian Basketball Federation with the NBA teams, stimulating the young people to engage in this exciting sporting journey.
The event, which involved teams from the areas of Gorizia and Trieste, saw the participation of over 250 young people and a gym full of family members and spectators. Nineteen men’s and seven women’s teams gathered to create the draw that assigned each team the name of an NBA team. The young athletes will wear the t-shirts of the assigned teams, coveted for their symbolic and sporting value, for the entire duration of the NBA Jr. Under 13 championship, which will resume on January 11th with the challenge between the Falconstar, renamed Miami Heat, and the New Basket Isonzo, which will take place in Pieris.
The Councilor for Sport of the Municipality of Monfalcone, Fabio Banello, was present to encourage the young athletes: “The municipal administration of Monfalcone is proud to host such important sporting events, to bring young people closer to sport, promote the values of commitment, loyalty and healthy competition and capable of uniting young athletes and communities under the sign of a shared passion. The Jr.NBA Draft represents a unique opportunity for kids to live the NBA dream, encouraging them to give their all both on and off the court.
We thank the Italian Basketball Federation and the Jr.NBA for this extraordinary collaboration, and we wish a good championship to all the participants.”
The event also saw the presence of prominent figures from the regional sports scene, including Giancarlo Visciano, coaches delegate, Giuseppe Monorchio, FIP regional councilor and Paolo Biasato, FIP competition office manager. The championship will end in June, with a view to promoting basketball in the area and creating growth opportunities for young people.