FICYMIs from October 1, 2021: Spagnolo, Van Der Vuurst, Ege Demir and more
FICYMIs from October 1, 2021: Spagnolo, Van Der Vuurst, Ege Demir and more
Friday In Case You Missed Its: Matteo Spagnolo impresses in Italian debut, Keye Van Der Vuurst pulls strings in season start, Ege Demir will play in second division, and women referees in Germany
The WWW is an endless ocean of exquisite content. Unfortunately so much is out there we are bound to miss some great stuff. Here are just some of the gems found this week by the Taking The Charge substack.
Spagnolo flashes talent in debut
Matteo Spagnolo flashed plenty of his enticing skillset in his season debut with Cremona in the Italian league as the point guard collected 15 points, seven rebounds and two assists in 23 minutes against Umana Reyer Venice. Spagnolo … Spagnolo … where do you remember that name? He is the Italian 2003-born playmaker who helped Real Madrid win the 2019 Adidas Next Generation Tournament title. With all the supreme guards on Real’s pro team, it would have been hard for Spagnolo to get any sort of minutes in the Spanish capital this season. So the Whites sent him back to his homeland on loan at Cremona, a team that also includes Nigerian Destiny Agbamu on loan from the up-and-coming youth development club Bassano. Spagnolo, who renewed his contract with Real last June for three years, played a major role in Italy winning bronze at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019 and also played for Italy’s senior team in the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifiers. Last summer, he collected 12.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.4 steals at the FIBA U20 European Challengers 2021.
Van Der Vuurst pulling the strings for Oostende
Keye Van Der Vuurst has been quite impressive in his start to the 2021- 22 season in the Belgian-Dutch BNXT League as the point guard averaged 9.3 points and 9.0 assists - including a 12-point, 11-assist double-double with 0 turnovers against Liege - through the first three games. Especially of note, those three games were played within six days and Van Der Vuurst, who won’t turn 20 until December 29, did not play more than 23 minutes in any of those contests. Oh, and he dished out 13 assists in the SuperCup against ZZ Leiden (video above). The 1.93 meter playmaker debuted with the Netherlands senior national team in 2018 at 16 years of age and averaged 6.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 41.2 percent on three-pointers and 80.0 percent on free throws in six games in the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifies, helping the country get back to the EuroBasket after missing out in 2017 following their return to the continental competition after 26 years in 2015.
Tofas send Ege Demir to second division club Gemlik to polish his game
Tofas Bursa is about to start the Basketball Champions League season but one of their biggest talents will not be playing with them this season. The 2003-born Ege Demir is being sent to the Turkish second division club Gemlik Basketbol in collaboration with Tofas to work on his development. The fellow 2003-born Batin Tuna will also be playing with Gemlik this season but the guard also might play with Tofas.
Four-year anniversary of opening of L’Aqueria Del Basket
Over the past four years, youth basketball observers, fans and teams have flocked to Valencia for various competitions/events/camps at the L’Alqueria Del Basket facility. The complex, which includes 13 courts - nine of them covered - is the largest and most technologically advanced basketball facility in Europe. And it just had its four-year anniversary. The club Valencia Basket, who own and operate the L’Alqueria Del Basket, will undoubtedly be reaping the rewards coming out of the facility for many many years - as will the basketball world.
Topps returns to basketball cards with Overtime Elite
For those trading cards fans out there, many will know that Fanatics is in the process of taking over the industry as it buys up licenses to print the cards in the coming years. But Topps, who soon will have to stop printing baseball cards, are making their return to basketball cards with the production of Topps Now cards of the players in the Overtime Elite program. Topps will be releasing cards of the players four at a time.
Two women referees in a German league game
It wasn’t the first time but the German league game between ratiopharm ulm and Telekom Baskets Bonn was a special one as Anne Panther and Danjana Rey were both referees - two women in the three-person officiating crew. The first time two women refereed a German league together came on March 29, 2019 - with Panther and Rey calling the game with Steve Bittner.