From Friday to Sunday, eight minibasket teams from all over Tuscany and beyond will play at PalaABC and PalaGilardetti in a tournament celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
The basketball ‘squirrels’ will take the court this weekend in Castelfiorentino to play the 25th minibasket tournament valid for the Friendship Trophy. From Friday to Sunday, the PalaBetti and PalaGilardetti will in fact host eight teams in the ‘scoiattoli’ (2014) category, coming from various areas of Tuscany and beyond, with the aim of living a unique experience, both on and off the court.
Starting on Friday morning (9.30 a.m.), the first matches of the tournament will be played at Pala Betti (Viale Roosevelt 36), in which the eight participating teams will be assigned in two Italian-style rounds. On Friday 2 and Saturday 3 June, the qualifying phase will take place, which will determine the rankings within the two groups.
For the Castle fans, eyes will naturally be on ABC, who will play their first match against Cecina (Friday at 9.30 a.m. at PalaBetti), then meet San Miniato in the afternoon (3 p.m.) and Collegno on Saturday (3.30 p.m.). The finals will be held on Sunday morning (4 June): those for 7th and 5th place at Pala Gilardetti (via XXV Aprile), and those for 1st and 3rd place at Pala Betti.
The tournament is promoted by ABC Castelfiorentino with the patronage of the Italian Basketball Federation and the Municipality of Castelfiorentino.
“A beautiful tournament and also a great responsibility,” reads the programme circulated by ABC Castelfiorentino, “which translates into trying to make boys, instructors, friends, and families experience an event that takes place in healthy competitive spirit but at the same time with those important values such as respect for teammates and opponents, loyalty on and off the court, and friendship, a word that holds enormous meaning.
Among other things, on the occasion of the first team’s promotion to Serie B, ABC will also fix the three outdoor basketball courts at its own expense, with the replacement of the nets, new backboards and the eventual replacement of the hoops.
We are happy that Castelfiorentino can host this tournament valid for the Friendship Trophy,” observes the Councillor for Sport, Simone Bruchi, “for three days under the banner of basketball, but above all of the most authentic spirit of sport, from which the new generations can draw to grow and form their character, their personality in an environment of relationships and friendship. I therefore thank the sponsors for their contribution and the ABC of Castelfiorentino for promoting this tournament, to which I add my gratitude for their willingness to renovate the outdoor basketball courts, so that young people can use them in the best possible conditions during the summer season’.
Pictured: The ABC team cat. ‘squirrels