BENNET CANTU

ROSTER

4 LIGHTY, DAVID G 1.95 5 MICOV, VLADIMIR F 2.01 7 SCEKIC, MARKO C 2.07 8 ORTNER, BENJAMIN C 2.06 9 MARKOISHVILI, M. G 1.97 10 LEUNEN, MAARTEN G 2.06 11 MARCONATO, DENIS C 2.14 12 MAZZARINO, NICOLAS G 1.81 15 PARAKHOUSKI, A. C 2.11 17 DIVIACH, MARCO F 2.00 20 CINCIARINI, ANDREA G 1.90 21 BOLZONELLA, F. G 1.82 55 BASILE, GIANLUCA G 1.92 Head Coach:TRINCHIERI, ANDREA

Historic Results 2010-11: 3-3, Eurocup RS

2010-11 Results Eurocup Regular Season: 3-3 Italian League: Finalist Italian Cup: Finalist

Turkish Airlines Euroleague newcomer Bennet Cantu brings a long history of European success with it as it climbs back to Europe’s premier competition this season. Perhaps because of its rich past, Cantu has comfortably found a healthy approach to prepare for its first season back at the elite level in decades. The club decided to keep the core of last season’s Italian League runner-up squad – head coach Andrea Trinchieri and eight players return from that team. Cantu has turned to veteran leadership: By signing former Euroleague champ Gianluca Basile and hanging on to Italian League legend Denis Marconato and point guard Nicolas Mazzarino, who has played for Cantu since 2005, the club has three well-respected veteran leaders to help keep the team moving in the right direction. Cantu has added promising young talents to the mix: center Artsiom Parakhouski and swingmen Andrea Cinciarini and David Lighty, the latter two of whom are signed to multi-year deals, could develop into true impact players that help Cantu regain its luster. And the squad is flooded with versatile players that can handle multiple positions. The bottom line is that Bennet Cantu could truly be a strong challenger already this season.



Coach Trinchieri can be comfortable that he has a coach on the floor whenever Basile or Mazzarino are on the floor. Basile, the competition’s career leader in three-pointers made, has seen it all as he readies for his 200th career Euroleague appearance. Though best known for his shooting, Basile is also a standout defender and perhaps most important – a true winner. Mazzarino is the senior member of the team and a classic pass-first playmaker, though also a fantastic outside shooter. Always looking for ways to make those around him better, Mazzarino never forces plays and keeps a cool head in clutch situations. Federico Bolzonella will also fight for minutes at point guard after exceling in the past at lower levels. Lighty is a rookie who showed tremendous all-around skills and a high basketball IQ during his college career. After making the adjustment to professional hoops, Lighty could develop into a bright spot for Cantu. Combo guard Cinciarini comes off a breakout season and a summer spent with the Italian national team. Excellent court vision and a knack for disrupting the opposition on defense should help Cinciarini stand out for Cantu. It may seem that swingman Manu Markoishvili has been around forever, because he made his Euroleague debut as a 15-year old and played meaningful minutes in the Euroleague Final that season, but he is just 24 and could be due a big year in his Euroleague return after four seasons away.

The remarkably consistent forward Vladimir Micov can essentially do it all and coach Trinchieri has found the best ways to maximize his talents. On any given day, Micov could lead the team in scoring, rebounds or assists – or even all three! Maarty Leunen has a shooting guard’s touch in a big man’s body. That said, Leunen is not scared to crash the boards either, making him an interesting matchup at any time. Young forward Marco Diviach is a promising rebounder, who will help in at power forward off the bench. Cantu does not lack size or depth at center. Ben Ortner has seemingly learned from Marconato to be a tough defensive-minded center. Both are great shot-blockers and extremely efficient on offense. Marko Scekic, who joined Cantu late last season and produced well in the playoffs, is a savvy offensive player with a great mid-range shot. And Parakhouski is a classic back-to-the-basket center with the potential to be a go-to guy and a double-double man.

Bennet Cantu will surely be challenged in its first season back in the Euroleague. However there is no doubt that the roster has a number of rising stars who will benefit playing alongside two local legends. Together they give coach Trinchieri a squad to leads to the floor every night with the potential for great things.

VIDEOS Team Video Maarten Leunen Andrea Trinchieri Denis Marconato