This afternoon, the end-of-season press conference of Guerri Napoli President Matt Rizzetta was held in the press room at Alcott Arena. Also in attendance was Rosario Procino, Managing Director and Head of Europe at Underdog Global Partners.
President Matt Rizzetta:
"I thank everyone in attendance today. I really wanted to meet with all the journalists at the end of the season. Unfortunately, we failed to reach the playoffs, one of our seasonal goals. It's difficult to understand this season. There were positive things and some less so. We were aiming to return to the playoffs. We're trying to learn and improve from everything that happened this year. James Laughlin and the staff are already working on next year's roster. I'm very optimistic and excited about the future. We have great faith in James Laughlin's work; for him too, it was a transition year in a different situation. We're confident he'll be able to manage the Italian market. We have one of the most acclaimed coaches in Europe, Jasmin Repesa, who will also help us with his great experience and knowledge. I expect synergy and collaboration between the coach and the General Manager. Napoli Basket 2026-2027 absolutely cannot fail to achieve its goals. We're working strong on the Arena as well. Upcoming conferences will provide an opportunity to explore more this topic i. This year, we attempted to qualify for European competitions. We're fully committed to applying for a wild card to return to Europe, to the Eurocup. Our begin into the club wasn't easy. We had to address non-sporting issues that complicated our management. This shouldn't be an excuse. We want to take this club to the top. We chose Coach Repesa for his impressive coaching results and his experience in Europe. We want to leverage his expertise in every way possible. We've focused on important Italian figures like Totè. We're pursuing 5-6 top-level prospects for next season. You'll see a group of Italian players who will certainly be up to the task. We'll strengthen our scouting team; I'm sure it will be a big help for next season. If we manage to get to Europe, we'll definitely expand the roster, selecting 13-14 players. Next year, I expect a very open championship, with the possibility of being among the top teams. We need to be realistic but also cultivate the right ambitions. Our financial commitment will always remain significant, as it has been this year. I want to look ahead, always thinking of the best for the community. We're here to build and try to make a little piece of basketball history here in Naples. We have excellent relations with the Euroleague gotha; we'll host the CEO here in Naples. We'll be ready for any possible international setting."
Rosario Procino, Managing Director & Head of Europe di UGP:
"We can't expect to grow sportingly without the club also growing. We're ready to improve our organization in this area as well. We have many initiatives lined up to engage the entire city. If we play in Europe, as we hope, we'll gain even greater visibility. We want to continue working with the partners who have supported us this year and involve more and more companies. We're working hard on the youth sector, encouraging local involvement."