Giovanni Pini

Giovanni Pini (born 25 July 1992) is an Italian professional basketball player for Virtus Roma of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). He plays at the power forward and center positions.

Giovanni Pini
Pini with Reggio Emilia in 2015
No. 22 – Virtus Roma
PositionPower forward / Center
LeagueLega Basket Serie A
Personal information
Born (1992-07-25) July 25, 1992
Carpi, Italy
NationalityItalian
Listed height2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
Listed weight100 kg (220 lb)
Career information
NBA draft2014 / Undrafted
Playing career2010–present
Career history
2010–2015Pallacanestro Reggiana
2012–2013→Biancoblù Bologna
2015–2016Sidigas Avellino
2016–2017Scaligera Verona
2017–2019Fortitudo Bologna
2019–presentVirtus Roma
Career highlights and awards

Professional career

The Carpi native played for local side Nazareno Basket Carpi before joining Pallacanestro Reggiana for the 2005-06 season. He then spent two seasons with the Under-16s and U-18s, then another two with the U-17s and U-19s, staying with the latter from thereon apart from two games on loan at Stella Azzurra Roma for the 2009 International Junior Tournament.[1]

Pini made his professional debut on 12 December 2010 against Casale Monferrato (for one rebound and missed shot apiece), making a handful more appearances in the second division later that season (also playing with U-19s) for averages of 2.7 points and 2.5 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per game.[2] He signed his first professional contract with Pallacanestro Reggiana in March 2011, linking him with the club until 2015.[1] The 2011-12 season saw him behind an array of players in the rotation despite playing both center and power forward positions (the former with more success),[3] finishing the season with 2 points and 1.1 rebounds in 7.6 minutes on average.[4]

Reggio Emilia were promoted to the first division Serie A at the end of the season but Pini stayed in LegaDue, moving on loan to Biancoblù Bologna for 2012-13.[5] Positioned as a center he enjoyed more game time with Bologna,[6] playing 12.4 minutes on average for 4.5 points and 2.4 rebounds despite struggling with plantar fasciitis.[7] Returning to Reggio Emilia the next season, he grappled a few minutes (7.7 per game) in the Serie A for 2 points and 1.7 rebounds, having more impact in the Italian Cup and also having a smaller part in the club's run to the European third-tier EuroChallenge title.[8]

His contract extended until 2016,[8] Pini missed the start of the season with a muscle injury, taking advantage on his return of Darjuš Lavrinovič's injury (and the departure of his brother Kšyštof) to earn accrued playing time,[9] ending the regular season with 2.6 points and 1.4 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per game. He was mostly a spectator during Reggio Emilia's playoffs run, though he decisively scored 8 points in 9 minutes during game 6 of the finals series against Banco di Sardegna Sassari to start a comeback that took the team to within a possession of a championship victory, through they ultimately lost the game and the series.[10]

His contract with Pallacanestro Reggiana was rescinded by the club in August 2015,[11] he then joined his teammate Riccardo Cervi at Sidigas Avellino by signing with them the same month.[12]

On July 23, 2019, he has signed with Virtus Roma of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). [13]

International career

Pini played with the Italy national under-16 side at the 2008 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship, posting 10.5 points and 8.2 rebounds in around 20 minutes per game as the Italians finished thirteenth.[14] With the under-18s, he played sparingly at the 2009 European Championship, before posting 6.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1 block per game in the 2010 edition as Italy finished twelfth.[15] He played a few games for the under-20 side but was not selected for any tournaments.

He was called up to an extended training camp of the senior Italy team in April 2014 but had to leave because of injury.[16] That same year he took part in the summer tour of the Italy B team in China, though he was rarely used.[17]

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References
  1. "Primo contratto professionistico per Giovanni Pini" [First professional contract for Giovanni Pini]. PallacanestroReggiana.it (in Italian). 4 March 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  2. "Giovanni Pini - Season 2010/2011". FIBA.com. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  3. "Giovane lungo sempre positivo ma "chiuso" dai veterani" [Young forward always optimistic but kept out by the veterans]. GazzettadiReggio.it (in Italian). 30 April 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  4. "Giovanni Pini - Season 2011/2012". FIBA.com. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  5. "Pini in prestito alla Biancoblù Basket Bologna (Legadue)" [Pini loaned to Biancoblù Basket Bologna (Legadue)]. PallacanestroReggiana.it (in Italian). 21 August 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  6. "Pini è stato fra i trascinatori della Effe Biancoblù a Casale" [Pini was amongst the leaders of the Eff Biancoblù at Casale]. GazzettadiReggio.it (in Italian). 10 October 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  7. "Giovanni Pini - Season 2012/2013". FIBA.com. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  8. "Giovanni Pini, forza e carattere" [Giovanni Pini, strength and character]. GazzettadiReggio.it (in Italian). 6 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  9. Arati, Adriano (2 January 2015). "Pini: "Deciso a giocarmi al meglio questa grande opportunità"" [Pini: “I'm ready to make the most of this big opportunity”]. =GazzettadiReggio.it (in Italian). Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  10. Arati, Adriano (26 June 2015). "La squadra falcidiata trova super Pini e Cervi" [An [injury]-reaped team finds super Pini and Cervi]. =GazzettadiReggio.it (in Italian). Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  11. "Pini: "Un gesto generoso del club liberarmi dal contratto"" [Pini, “A generous gesture by the club to release me from the contract]. GazzettadiReggio.it (in Italian). 20 August 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  12. "Avellino raddoppia: dopo Cervi ecco Pini" [Avellino does a double: after Cervi here's Pini]. CorrieredelloSport.it (in Italian). 20 August 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  13. "Virtus Roma signs Giovanni Pini". Sportando. July 23, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  14. "Italy #14 – Giovanni Pini". FIBA.com. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  15. "Italy #14 – Giovanni Pini". FIBA.com. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  16. "Italy mini training camp boosts youth". FIBAEurope.com. 11 April 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  17. "Nazionale sperimentale maschile – Giovanni Pini" [National men's experimental [team] – Giovanni Pini]. FIP.it (in Italian). Retrieved 11 September 2015.
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