Archers: “Excellent professionals. They are the silent heroes behind our victories.”
Behind every sporting success there is a team of professionals who work tirelessly to ensure that athletes can reach their full potential. Pallacanestro Trieste has an excellent staff, made up of experts in the medical and sports fields, who represent the backbone of its gaming system. These professionals, often far from the spotlight, are fundamental to every victory and every progress of the team. Their daily commitment and passion are what make it possible to achieve the objectives.
Pallacanestro Trieste is extremely proud to officially announce the confirmation of Luca Bonetta, Andrea Bussani, Luca Vavassori and Gabriele Vittori in ours Performance Staff and Doctors Leopoldo Cervo, Arianna Ius, Vittorio Ramella, Chiara Rosin, Pierpaolo Ubaldini and Massimo Zecchin in ours Medical Group.
“Our professional staff – the comment of the red and white GM Michael Arcieri – highly skilled and extraordinarily detail-oriented, he is the beating heart of our team and our operations. The commitment, expertise and passion they pour into their players and coaching staff inspire, guide and support us every day. They make enormous sacrifices, putting the needs of others before their own. They are our silent heroes, the basis of every basket made, of every fast break, of every victory. We couldn’t be more proud to have them with us in red and white!”
LUCA BONETTA
Luca qualified as a Strength & Conditioning Coach after completing his university education and Masters in Sports Science. In 2018 he worked with Prof. Paolo Paoli with the newly promoted Pallacanestro Trieste. Luca has become Head Strength & Conditioning Coach nel 2021-22 and he will soon reach one hundred (100) official matches as Head S&C Coach in Serie A, a very special achievement. Luca is also teacher of Physical Education and Sports at the Oberdan High School as well as FIP Regional Director of the training program for future strength and conditioning coaches. Luca has two children, Anita and Michele.
“Basketball has always been a great passion for me, first as a player and now as a strength and conditioning coach – the words of Luca Bonetta – Being from Trieste, I have always supported Pallacanestro Trieste. I still remember with emotion when as a child I went to the sports hall with my father to see Telit and then Coop Nordest. As a player I had the privilege of wearing that shirt both in the youth team and in the first team. I keep many precious memories, including two national finals reached with coach Comuzzo and the promotion to Serie A-2 in 2012!”
LUCA VAVASSORI
Luca begins his third season with Pallacanestro Trieste, covering the role of Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach. He also works with the Youth Sector and Futurosa, the women’s basketball club. He has a bachelor’s degree in Motor Sciences and it’s a National Basketball Strength Coach certificate.
“My passion for basketball and physical training extends to different levels of the sport – the words of Luca Vavassori – I am focused on helping athletes reach their full potential both physically and mentally.”
ANDREA BUSSANI
Andrea will soon celebrate his 25th anniversary as part of the Pallacanestro Trieste family.
“For me, being part of this club is like living a long love story: an experience that fills me with responsibility, but above all with great joy, passion and fun. My job is to take care of the players, allowing them to compete at the highest level. In recent years I have experienced all categories, from B2 to Serie A, including European competitions. Thanks to this journey I have had the opportunity to meet extraordinary people and discover new cultures and places, a gift for which I will be eternally grateful.”
GABRIELE VITTORI
Gabriele obtained a first degree in physiotherapy in 2017 and a second in exercise science in 2022. He currently works at Sevenhub SRL, a new private practice in the city centre. The 2024/2025 season represents his seventh year of collaboration with Pallacanestro Trieste. Gabriele’s current focus is both reducing the risk of injury than managing injured athletes.
“The double degree allows me to be the link between the player, technical staff, physical trainer and medical staff. For me, a former basketball player, it is an immense joy to work for an ambitious club and to have reached the top division in other roles as well as an athlete. Furthermore, the bond that has been created over these years with the club and with the people who work for the good of the team is truly special, so much so that I consider the club as my second family.”
ARIANNA IUS
Doctor Ius is a specialist in Sports Medicine and is the latest member to join the Pallacanestro Trieste Medical Group. He has extensive clinical experience in Cardiology and Sports Medicine. He carried out a period of clinical activity in Ireland and is currently a sports doctor at ASUGI and teacher of the specialization course in Sports Medicine.
LEOPOLDO CERVO
Leopoldo has a degree in Biological Sciences and a Masters in Dietetics & Nutrition. He played ice hockey in Serie A-2 and Serie B from 1985 to 2000. Leopoldo is nutritional consultant for Pallacanestro Trieste since 2016 and has been on the team’s medical staff since 2022.
MASSIMO ZECCHIN
Born in Trieste, Massimo is a cardiologist specializing in arrhythmology and is responsible for the Electrophysiological Diagnostic and Interventional Structure of the Cardiology of Trieste (with particular interest in Sports Cardiology and Sports Medicine in general). Still a practicing athlete, he volunteers as a company doctor at various amateur organizations in Trieste.
Maximum is always was a Pallacanestro Trieste fan (his first season tickets purchased for the 1979-80 championship season) and is on the team’s medical staff since 2019.
“It is with great emotion and pride that I contribute as much as possible to the health management of the team.”
VITTORIO RAMELLA
Vittorio, born in Trieste, is Associate Professor of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery UCO Reconstructive and Aesthetic and Director of the Simple Microsurgery Department at the University of Trieste. He’s coming into his own tenth season of collaboration with Pallacanestro Trieste, these last two seasons as the team’s sports doctor.
“My time with the team is an adventure marked by profound changes that have given us a certainty over the years: Pallacanestro Trieste is not just a basketball team, but the beating heart of the city. The strong bond between the club and its fans, the mutual respect and synergy between the team and the professionals involved, and the determination of the general managers who took turns have made every challenge an opportunity for growth and success built together day after day. Being part of this team as a doctor but above all as a fan is a great privilege.”
CHIARA ROSIN
Chiara is Surgeon specializing in Infectious Diseases and currently works in Department of Pulmonary Rehabilitation of the Pineta del Carso. She joined the Pallacanestro Trieste Medical Group during the 2021-22 season.
“I was fortunate enough to join the medical staff of Pallacanestro Trieste in the second part of the 2021-2022 season during a difficult period linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then I have had the privilege of being able to experience and share every moment, every sporting and human emotion that Pallacanestro Trieste transmits through every single unique part that makes it up.”
PIERPAOLO UBALDINI
Pierpaolo was part of the medical staff of Pallacanestro Trieste from 2000 to 2004 and then returned to the team starting from the 2017-18 season experiencing the joy of two promotions (2017-18; 2023-24). Pierpaolo retired from medical practice in March 2024 but he continues as a collaborator with his beloved red and whites.
