Gianmarco Pozzecco left the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 as one of the tournament’s most colorful characters.
The 50-year-old Italian head coach introduced himself to the Filipino public as a brash individual a day before the tournament, demanding to meet Manny Pacquiao and asking the public to stay at home to reduce traffic.
However, Pozzecco’s journey in Manila transformed him into a beloved figure. His continuous homage to Pacquiao and the Filipino people, along with his expressions of love for his players, made his interviews a hit on social media.
Perhaps more than the basketball itself, he will remember his time in the Philippines because he had the opportunity to meet his hero and experience the kindness of Filipinos.
(c) MPBL
“I know that you are from the Philippines and you are like amazing. You guys are amazing. You are amazing. But this is something that in our country is not possible that happened that one huge star, legend in the history of sport invited an idiot like myself to his house just because I said something,” said Pozzecco.
“He’s so nice person. He’s so nice person. We spent like… He invited me to his house for dinner and we played chess. He’s an amazing person. He represent you guys like, you have to be proud of him and he has to be proud of you,” the former point guard of the Azzurri continued.
“I will never forget (this) in my life. He invited me to his house. He’s an amazing person. I love him. I loved him before, right now even more.”
Pozzecco’s journey to the Philippines as the Azzurri’s coach yielded professional achievements.
He led the Azzurri to an eighth-placed finish with four wins in the tournament, marking the first time Italy finished in the top eight of the world championship since their sixth-placed finish in 1998.
Despite seeing his team end the competition with an 89-85 defeat to Luka Doncic’s Slovenia, the 2019 FIBA Europe Cup winner was proud of his players. He paid tribute to one of Italy’s stalwarts, Luigi Datome, who officially retired after the game.
As a former professional athlete and a member of the Azzurri himself, he knew how it felt to wake up the next morning knowing that life as a basketball player was over.
“In this moment, I’m close to Gigi. I will never forget in my life because Gigi is a true legend,” said Pozzecco.
“I already stopped playing. I already left what Gigi is leaving. When you stop to play, which kind of person you are give you the opportunity to live without basketball because everybody reminds you, everybody show you love,” he continued.
“What Gigi did, it would be everything like for his future, understand what I mean. Gigi will have like great life like from now till the end of his day.”
Without a doubt, Poz endeared himself to Filipinos, while Filipinos have left a lasting impression on him.
