Basketball Serie B, Marco Pasqualin: the last dance

Two seasons and a half lived at full throttle, the last one even as captain and leader of the people: the roads of Luiss and Marco Pasqualin at the end of the season will be divided. No news really, the point guard class 1997 has finished his studies (a Master’s Degree achieved with honors) and at the end of these two games he will be free to find a team. The season has been very complicated, but he has taken on the shoulders of the entire locker room and together with the other senators has managed to accomplish the feat of a salvation that in November seemed impossible.

Marco, this Saturday will be your last game at PalaLuiss: how do you feel?
“They are strong emotions, especially if I think about what I have done in these years with this jersey: joys, disappointments, sacrifices that have allowed me to get to the end of this path. I am aware that I have had an extraordinary opportunity and I have reconciled basketball and university studies both at a very high level”.

The season that is about to go into the archives ended with a salvation with two days to go, well deserved, that has the appearance of a real feat.
“I agree. Only we inside the locker room are able to define how incredible has been the result achieved. After just one win in the first ten games, to have won the next thirteen out of seventeen I think is incredible. As I’ve always said in these months, it’s all been the result of an enormous amount of daily work and an important mental toughness during the many misfortunes that have befallen us.

What is the general balance of your experience at Luiss from a basketball standpoint? Do you feel you have improved, grown, matured?
“I learned to play much more freely, I felt very empowered by coach Paccariè. If I have to think about another aspect, it is the management of time and energy, both physical and nervous, considering the many daily commitments it is really important to understand when it is necessary to take a break.

Academically have you achieved your goals?
“The path has been special. I managed to finish my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and now I’ve completed my Master’s degree in Management: I never imagined that I would be able to finish my studies in such a short time, taking into account the fact that I’m a sportsman. My greatest good fortune has been to be surrounded by people who have always pushed me to excel, both on the floor and on the books, and when I finished my exams in the last session of the master’s program I felt a very strong emotion.

What does it mean to be a captain of a team that represents the university?
“Being elected captain I think was a reward for the effort I put in all these years. I won’t deny that this year was really challenging, I felt even more empowered on and off the field. We players are testimonials of a unique reality in Italy and consequently I have always wanted that on and off the court the values transmitted by this prestigious university that dedicates enormous resources to basketball would be represented in the best possible way.

What advice would you give to the Marco of three years ago who was about to embark on this experience?
“I would definitely tell him to enjoy every single moment, especially the disappointments because with all the sacrifices made to carry out this double commitment, it would be superficial and useless to back out at the first difficulties. I have no regrets of any kind, and I have never regretted the choice I made a few years ago”.

It’s time to say goodbye…
“I think there are hundreds of people to thank, starting with all the teammates I’ve had in these three years, coaches Paccariè and Esposito, President Abete and the entire Luiss Sports Association. A special thanks also to our Team Manager Luca Sanguinetti with whom in these years I have shared every joy and disappointment: he is of a unique importance in motivating us players to do our best on and off the court, he is able to perfectly convey the values of this project”.