Achille Polonara

Achille Polonara
No. 6 – Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia
Position Power forward
League Serie A
Personal information
Born November 23, 1991
Ancona, Italy
Nationality Italian
Listed height 203 cm (6 ft 8 in)
Listed weight 90 kg (198 lb)
Career information
NBA draft 2013 / Undrafted
Pro career 2000–present
Career history
2008–2012 Teramo Basket
2012–2014 Pallacanestro Varese
2014–present Pallacanestro Reggiana
Career highlights and awards

Achille Polonara (born November 23, 1991) is an Italian professional basketball player who currently plays for Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia of the Serie A as a Power forward (basketball).

He is a left handed combo forward most noted for his athleticism, in attack he uses it to grab offensive rebounds or drive to the basket to score, whilst in defence it enhances his shot blocking ability. As a tweener he's not yet a perfect fit in any position, lacking the technique to be a perfect 3 whilst needing to build on his strength for the 4 spot, however his constant progress lets think he could be a great player in the future.[1]

Personal life

Achille credits his a older brother Valerio, now a player at Amatori Basket Pescara in Serie B, as inspiring him to become a basketball player.[2] His nephew, Michele Serpilli, also plays basketball, with the Italy national basketball team U16. [3]

In 2012, he was dating model Giulia Capuani who was Miss Terra Italia the same year.[4]

Professional career

After progressing though the youth ranks of Teramo Basket he debuted in the Serie A in the 2009-10, he quickly became a regular player for the team, winning the League Best Player Under 22 title the next season.[5] However his team was struggling both athletically, 14th out 17 teams, and more importantly financially, forcing them to withdraw from the league and stop operations and leaving Polonara without a team.

He then joined play-off qualified Cimberio Varese and was essential in helping them finish first in the 2012-13 regular season, before losing in the play-off semifinals to eventual champion Montepaschi Siena, he again won the Under 22 award. The next season allowed him to play in the european second tier Eurocup for the first time, however his team struggled, both in Europe where they finished last of their group and in the league where they didn't make the play-offs.

This motivated him to join ambitious club Pallacanestro Reggiana who had made the play-offs and also won the 2013–14 EuroChallenge which allowed them to participate in next season's Eurocup. [6]

Italian national team [7]

He started in the under age categories of the Italian national basketball team, most notably winning the silver medal at the 2011 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship where he was a starter, before joining the senior team first in 2012 and then permanently from 2014, playing in FIBA EuroBasket 2015 qualification in which they qualified for FIBA EuroBasket 2015.

References

  1. ↑ Bortoluzzi, Davide & Neri, Lorenzo. "Scouting the Draft-Eligible European Prospects: Achille Polonara", Eurohopes, 24 Decelber 2012. Retrieved on 26 February 2015.
  2. ↑ "Get to know Valerio Polonara better", Lega Nazionale Pallacanestro, 20 November 2014. Retrieved on 27 February 2015.
  3. ↑ Cirelli, Matteo. "Basket, U19, Serpilli (Pesaro): Happy of my impact in DNG La Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan, 11 December 2014. Retrieved on 27 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Barzizza, Marco. "Polonara: I'm playing well thanks to Giulia" Intervista Sportiva, 10 December 2012. Retrieved on 27 February 2015.
  5. ↑ "Serie A, the MVP is Bo McCalebb, Sacchetti coach of the year" La Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan, 10 May 2014. Retrieved on 27 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "Basket Serie A, Polonara chooses the Reggiana" Tuttosport, 22 July 2014. Retrieved on 27 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "Achille Polonara", Federazione Italiana Pallacanestro. Retrieved on 27 February 2015.