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One of the most exciting and promising prospects in Europe, played at three successive U16 European Championships, made the All-Tournament Team last year in Bourges – France while helping her side grab the bronze medal, won gold this summer in Kaunas – Lithuania where she was a few votes away from clinching another ATT appearance, finished 5th at her first global tourney in Minsk during the Worlds U17, was  crowned MVP of the Italian U18 national championship while still only 16… sky is the limit for backcourt ace Ilaria Panzera. Coming off a fabulous 2017-2018 season, I felt it was good idea to get to know her a bit better as she’s about to start her career in Italy’s Serie A1 in the coming days, her second season at the senior level after winning the Serie A2 league with her Milan side GEAS Sesto San Giovanni last year. Capable of taking over a game at any time, filling the stats sheets in all categories, never far from a triple or even quadruple double, Panzera’s impact and influence can be felt all over and by everyone. As determined on the court as she is creative a ball in the hand, she loves to take responsibility and thrives come crunch time. Ilaria was kind enough to take some time from her busy schedule to answer my questions. Here we go!

 

Ilaria Panzera, Italy (2002, 5’10, PG/SG)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmqCPTZH2sZ/?taken-by=panzera.ilaria

 

At club level you finished 3rd both at the U16  and U18 Italian national championship, got voted U18 MVP, won the Serie A2 championship meaning promotion to Serie A1 this coming season + you finished 5th at the U17 FIBA Worlds and stepped onto the highest step of the podium in Kaunas at FIBA Europe U16 representing your country: quite a fabulous 2017-2018 season don’t you think? What are your thoughts about it?

Indeed it’s been a fantastic season. I really had a lot of fun, even beyond the results we achieved. After all the sacrifices an athlete goes through all year around, I have to say it’s a real satisfaction to be able to transform sweat into tears of joy.

Come end of August you must have felt really tired! Do titles and medals eliminate the fatigue? How do you manage it in such a long season?

Titles and medals make fatigue almost fully disappear. Of course on the one hand after two months of training camps you feel tired, but on the other hand you have inside of you a great amount of emotions that make you feel proud of this fatigue and of what you have done.

You claimed the whole year last season that you would win the U16 European Championship in Kaunas, what made you feel so confident about you and your teammates?

I was sure that we would do well at this year’s FIBA Europe U16 tournament for the simple fact that many of us knew each other for many years. We were a group full of individual talents that just needed to find the right chemistry.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm6tT8VH82G/?taken-by=panzera.ilaria

At the U17 Worlds you played more at the PG and the SG position whereas at the U16 FIBA Europe it was SG and SF? Which position do you prefer to play at? How is the transition from SF to PG going?  In the long term is playing PG a goal of yours?

To be honest I prefer to play the PG/SG but I don’t mind both roles. I always try to get better in all aspects of the game, so that I’m ready to do whatever is useful in the future. To play the PG means carrying your team on your back and I like that responsibility.

In Minsk you were 6/28FG in the first four games of the tournament then 14/33FG in the next three ones, same in Bourges last summer, at the Italian U18 F4 you posted two huge double-doubles in the SF and 3rd place game (19-11 & 23-12-6ass) on your way to claim the MVP title, in Kaunas in the title match you exploded for 11-12-6ass-7st, you seem to elevate your game as the crucial games come. After slow starts you always come big, you know why that is? Do you sense a difference in your approach between group games and elimination ones?

Unfortunately this year as well, like in Bourges last summer, I started the European Championship quite poorly. But as the tournament unfolded and games became harder, my determination and desire to do well and to get a medal grew. The coming summers I hope to play well from the very beginning.

How would you describe your playing style? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What is your favorite move and which one would you like to manage better?

As far as i’m concerned I really enjoy reading the court. I love to create solutions for my teammates, but in the same time I also like to create for myself. I think one of the strong aspects of my game are my 1on1 skills. At the moment I’m working on my 3 point shooting. A move I really want to nail is the « stepback », it’s one of the most simple moves but in the same time one of the most efficient.

Which aspect of your game do you want to improve the most?

One of the aspects of my game I absolutely want to get better at is the speed of my shooting release coming off a screen. I think for an elite player it is a fundamental aspect to have.

Just like your NT teammate Giulia Natali you played with boys at youth level. What are the benefis of it and what advantage does it give you compared to the other girls? From what age to what age was it? You have a twin brother, do you guys play together from time to time?

I played with boys from 6 to 13, that last year I played with girls as well. Having played so long with boys did help me with my physicality and with my mental strength. The tenacity and determination it takes to play with people stronger than you physically makes you grow a lot. And yes I do go play from time to time with my twin brother, on the playground behind our house.

Besides the title game in Kaunas which of course must feel very special to you, what is your Top 3 of this summer’s games?

My #1 is definitely the Semi-Final against Spain in Kaunas, #2 the game for 5th spot against Spain again in Minsk during the Worlds U17 and #3 the Quarter-Final against France in Kaunas too.

What is for you the biggest difference between a global tournament and a European one? What did you take with you from the U17 Worlds?

A the Worlds the level goes up a lot. You can tell by the number of great players inside of each team. In Minsk compared to a European championship I noticed a much stronger team spirit and a higher level of fun from all teams involved.

You lost in the Semi-Finals of the U16 and U18 Italy national championships to some of your U16 NT teammates (Balossi, Spinelli, Nasraoui), it must have felt really good to finally win alongside them? Did they mention the fact in the locker room this summer?

Yes it was enjoyable. Sometimes indeed we made jokes about it but actually I didn’t think so much about what had happened, and if anything, it got me even more motivated to win!

Can you tell us a few words on coach Lucchesi?

A few words ? I would have a million of words to say about him. On top of being a fantastic coach he is such a beautiful human being. I believe that in any coach/player relationship the approach is as important as the skills you try to bring, and he never disappoints you on that level. I know I can always count of him, he has done so much for me.

What are your career goals? Senior NT? Euroleague? WNBA? NCAA? Would you like to continue studying and playing at a high level simultaneously? Do you think about it?

The main goal I want to reach is to play for the senior NT. Then of course playing in the WNBA is the dream of any girl… In my mind I really want to combine playing basketball and studying. In Italy for the moment…

Do you have a model player? Who is your favourite Italian? European? WNBA?

I don’t have a model. I like to learn a bit from every player. As an Italian basketball player, I really like the styles of Cecilia Zandalasini and Giorgia Sottana. A player from outside of Italy I really like is Diana Taurasi.

What is your favorite team?

My favorite Italian team is Armani Milano (men), I support them since I’m a child. In Euroleague it would be CSKA Moscow (men) and as far as NBA is concerned it would be the Boston Celtics (men again).

If you could chose an All-Star Five, who would be in it?

Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Jewell Loyd, Elena Delle Done and Brittney Griner.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl0lkHTngfv/?taken-by=panzera.ilaria

This season you will make your big debut in Italy’s Serie A1. How excited are you about it? What are your goals for this season?

For now, since the season hasn’t started yet, I still don’t feel the excitement so much, but I’m very confident in my capacities and in my coach Cinzia Zanotti. I’m ready to perform well  this season. I don’t have a specific goal besides enjoying myself and learning as much as possible.

What are your hobbies outside of basketball?

Outside of basketball I don’t have that many hobbies since I don’t have much free time but I enjoy going out with my friends and being in their company. When I’m at home I like to watch series.

I read that you would like in the future to either be a journalist, a coach or a physiotherapist. Correct?

Yes it is. When I think about what work I want to do, I really want it to be related with sport. It is my passion and I would love it to become my job.

After winning gold in Kaunas you got a lot of media attention in Italy (TV appearance on Sky sport, interview with Rolling Stone Italia) which allowed you and your teammates Giulia Natali and Martina Spinelli to meet Cecilia Zandalisini. How was that?

Yes it was the first time I got to meet her. As a matter of fact I was a bit agitated. We didn’t have so much time to talk between us, but I really liked her way of being, her approach, her availability, her giving us some advices.. But after all she’s only 6 years older than us ! I must say I really enjoy spending some of my time with champions !

 

Grazie per le tue risposte Ilaria e in bocca al lupo per la stagione 2018/19 !

 

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Born to Polish PE teachers/coaches parents, involvement with sport and basketball was never a question. Eastern attention to fundamentals, athleticism, discipline and hard work eventually met Western standards through his development in the French system. Now a former player with a passion for the women’s game going back for more than 25 years, he uses his knowledge to bring insights and perspective on women's basketball internationally - with a strong emphasis on Europe and player development.

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