Achille Polonara
 Polonara playing for Cimberio Varese | ||||||||||||||
| No. 33 – Dinamo Basket Sassari | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Power forward / Small forward | |||||||||||||
| League | LBA FIBA Europe Cup | |||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
| Born | (1991-11-23) November 23, 1991 Ancona, Italy | |||||||||||||
| Nationality | Italian | |||||||||||||
| Listed height | 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) | |||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 90 kg (198 lb) | |||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 2013 / Undrafted | |||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2009–present | |||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||
| 2009–2012 | Teramo | |||||||||||||
| 2012–2014 | Varese | |||||||||||||
| 2014–2017 | Reggiana | |||||||||||||
| 2017–present | Dinamo Sassari | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
Medals
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Achille Polonara (born November 23, 1991) is an Italian professional basketball player for Dinamo Sassari of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). He plays primarily as power forward.
Contents
1 Professional career
1.1 Teramo Basket
1.2 Cimberio Varese
1.3 Pallacanestro Reggiana
2 International career
3 Player profile
4 Personal
5 Career statistics
5.1 EuroCup
5.2 Domestic leagues
6 Honours
6.1 Individual
6.2 Team
6.2.1 International
7 References
8 External links
Professional career
Teramo Basket
After progressing though the youth ranks of Banca Tercas Teramo, Polonara debuted in the first division, the Serie A, on the first game of 2009-10 though he rarely featured that season and played sparingly the next.
He played more regularly during the 2011-12 season with 8.2 points and 4,5 rebounds in 15.6 minutes on average, some coming from a stellar performance against Fabi Shoes Montegranaro in April with 34 points (13/14 from the field) and 9 rebounds for a valuation of 46.[1]
This helped the youngster win the Best Player Under 22 award for the season.[2]
He was also selected (as a replacement) for the Serie A All Star Game.[3]
Cimberio Varese
Teramo was struggling financially and filed for bankruptcy during the summer of 2012, forcing Polonara to find a new club, which he did in July, signing a 3-year contract containing various escape clauses with Cimberio Varese.[4]
Both parties profited from the deal as Polonara contributed 9.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 23 minutes per game to help the side finish first in the 2012-13 regular season.
He posted 5.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.8 steals in 15 minutes per game in the playoffs as Varese took eventual champions Montepaschi Siena to a seventh game in the semifinals. Polonara was named as the Best Player Under 22 for the second successive season.[5]
The next season saw major players such as Bryant Dunston leave the side,[6] which meant Polonara accrued more playing time.
However, Varese had an anonymous season, losing to Oldenburg in the Euroleague qualifying rounds despite Polonara's team high 18 points to exit Europe's premier competition.[7]
Demoted to the European second tier EuroCup, Varese finished last in group C to also exit the competition, with Polonara posting 7.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.[8]
The team also finished out of playoff contention in the league, though he had figures of 10.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. The Anconan received a third successive call up to the All Star Game, played in his hometown, winning the Slam Dunk contest.[9]
Varese lost its main sponsor during the off-season, meaning that Polonara's reported €180,000 final contract year was too costly, he wasn't prepared to take a pay cut and wanted to play in a European competition to keep progressing so left the side.[10]
Pallacanestro Reggiana
Polonara joined Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia in July 2014, signing a three-year contract (with a mutual escape clause after the second year) with the EuroCup playing side.[8] He cited Reggio's practice of playing young Italians as a factor in the decision.[11]
Though Reggio were eliminated in the Eurocup group stage, Polonara started all games, ending as the team's second best scorer (11ppg) and best rebounder (6.4rpg) for a team second 14.3 valuation.[12]
He even picked up a (shared) Round 7 MVP award after a determinant contribution to the November 2014 win over Paris-Levallois.[13]
Polonara had his breakout year in the Serie A, playing more minutes (31.1) than any other teammate, he also finished as second best scorer and best rebounder to earn the highest valuation of the team.[14] His figures of 8.4 rebounds and 18.1 in valuation per game also ranked him 5th in the league for each, with Gazzetta choosing him as their second most improved player for 2014-15.[15]
International career
Polonara started playing for the youth squads of the Italian national team, first with the Under-18's at the 2009 European Championship. He notably won the silver medal with the U20's at the 2011 European Championship where he was an important contributor, including being the best performer in the semifinal against France.[16]
Polonara was called up to the preliminary squad of the senior team as a temporary replacement for the injured Nicolò Melli as they prepared for EuroBasket 2013.[17] However he himself later picked an ankle injury and was dropped from the squad.[18]
He would rejoin the senior side in 2014, scoring 20 points on his genuine (discounting the All Star Game) debut against German, he then became a regular in Italy squads.[19]
Participating in the successful EuroBasket 2015 qualification, he played in all 4 games with an average of 3.8 points and 1.3 rebounds in 8.5 minutes.[20]
He was called up to the squad that would take part in EuroBasket 2015 to start on 5 September.[21]
Player profile
A left handed stretch four, his athleticism is his primary strength. He's an explosive and energetic player,[22] who's quick and has a great vertical leap, the latter of which has seen him colloquially nicknamed “PolonAir”.[23]
Rebounding is his statistical strength on both ends of the court,[24] using his instincts and speed to surprise opponents.
In attack he's tough to defend as he can operate on the perimeter, where he's able to beat bigger and slower defenders with a fast first-step or punish loose marking with his jump shot. His great wingspan makes him even more potent, whilst he's also effective and smooth on the floor where he can cover ground quickly.
On the defensive side, besides rebounding, he’s a great shot blocker thanks to his good timing and balance and also a good pick and roll defender who can switch with the guards thanks to his lateral speed and wingspan.[22][24]
A mayor negative is his lanky frame,[24] it can see him struggle defending against inside players or muscular guards, in offense it also limits his post move when he's back to the basket, making him an imperfect fit for the 4 position.
For the 3 position, he lacks safe ball-handling on the dribble and needs to develop his shooting options to be a better fit and develop from his Tweener status.[22]
However, he has regularly been noted for his work ethic and determination,[22][24] helping him improve year on year to add a solid three pointer and the ability to score in traffic to his offensive repertoire,[23] for future development he identifies defensive concentration, 1vs.1 play, especially with the right hand, and better three point shooting as priorities.[25]
Personal
Achille credits his older brother Valerio, who has had a career in the Italian lower leagues, as inspiring him to become a basketball player, the brothers (separated in age by 7 years) are very close.[26]
His nephew, Michele Serpilli, also plays basketball, with the Pesaro youth teams, he reportedly is an admirer of Polonara.[25]
He cites Amedeo Della Valle, Riccardo Cervi, Giovanni Pini and Adam Pechacek as his closest teammates at Reggio Emilia.[25]
Career statistics
Sources: EuroCup (2014,[27] 2015),[28] Serie A[29]
EuroCup
| Legend | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game | ||
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage | ||
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game | ||
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | PIR | Performance Index Rating | ||
| Bold | Career high | ||||||
Note: The EuroLeague is not the only competition in which the player participated for the team during the season. He also played in domestic competition, and regional competition if applicable.
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013–14 | Cimberio Varese | 10 | 10 | 25.3 | 27.8 | 31.8 | 62.5 | 3.6 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 7.2 | 6.0 |
2014–15 | Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia | 10 | 10 | 30.9 | 40.6 | 28.9 | 76.7 | 6.4 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 11.0 | 14.3 |
| Career | 20 | 20 | 28.1 | 35.7 | 30.3 | 71.7 | 5.0 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 9.1 | 10.1 |
Domestic leagues
| Legend | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game | PPG | Points per game | |
| 2P% | Two-point field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage | |||
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | BPG | Blocks per game | |||
| SPG | Steals per game | TOPG | Turnovers per game | Bold | Career high | |||
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | 2P% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | BPG | SPG | TOPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009–10 | Banca Tercas Teramo | 5 | 0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 75.0 | 50.0 | 100.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
2010–11 | 26 | 1 | 11.6 | 3.0 | 38.6 | 10.0 | 71.8 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.7 | |
2011–12 | 32 | 0 | 15.6 | 8.2 | 70.8 | 34.1 | 63.3 | 4.5 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.2 | |
2012–13 | Cimberio Varese | 28 | 7 | 22.9 | 9.5 | 54.3 | 34.2 | 63.6 | 5.4 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 1.4 |
2013–14 | 30 | 30 | 26.6 | 10.5 | 59.3 | 33.6 | 74.6 | 4.8 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.0 | |
2014–15 | Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia | 30 | 27 | 31.1 | 12.0 | 57.8 | 37.5 | 62.7 | 8.4 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.0 |
| Career | 151 | 65 | 21.1 | 8.5 | 58.2 | 33.9 | 66.5 | 5.1 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 1.0 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | 2P% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | BPG | SPG | TOPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012–13 | Cimberio Varese | 12 | 1 | 14.8 | 5.8 | 50.0 | 33.3 | 77.8 | 3.4 | 0.7 | 0,0 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| Career | 12 | 1 | 14.8 | 5.8 | 50.0 | 33.3 | 77.8 | 3.4 | 0.7 | 0,0 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
Honours
Individual
Serie A
Best Player Under 22: 2012, 2013
Lega Basket All Star Game
Participant: 2012–2015
Slam dunk contest winner: 2014
Premio Reverberi: 2015 (best player)
Team
International
European Under-20 Championship
2011 Bilbao
Silver
Silver
References
^ "Hairston punisce l'Acea, Polonara castiga la Fabi" [Hairston punishes Acea, Polonara chastises Fabi]. Corriere dello Sport – Stadio (in Italian). Roma. 25 April 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2015..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ "Serie A, l'Mvp è Bo McCalebb. Sacchetti allenatore dell'anno" [Serie A, the MVP is Bo McCalebb. Sacchetti coach of the year]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Milan. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
^ "Edison All Star Game 2012. Achille Polonara sostituisce Alessandro Gentile" [Edison All Star Game 2012. Achille Polonara replaces Alessandro Gentile]. Federazione Italiana Pallacanestro (in Italian). 7 March 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
^ "Cimberio, la squadra è fatta. Oggi colpo finale: l'esterno Usa" [Cimberio, the squad is formed. Today the final piece: an American guard]. La Provincia di Varese.it (in Italian). 24 July 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
^ "Datome replicates Gallinari's feat". FIBA Europe. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
^ Cirelli, Matteo (19 August 2013). "Basket, primo giorno di lavoro per Varese. Frates: "Milano nettamente favorita"" [Basketball: first workday for Varese. Frates: "Milan by far the favourite"]. La Gazzetta dello Sport Milano (in Italian). Milan. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
^ "2013-14 Qualifying Round 1: Cimberio Varese - EWE Baskets Oldenburg (Report)". Euroleague. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
^ ab "Achille Polonara signs with Reggio Emilia". Eurocup Basketball. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
^ "Qui credono negli italiani. Varese leale, umile, vera" [Here they believe in Italians. Varese is loyal, humble and true]. La Provincia di Varese.it (in Italian). 15 April 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
^ "Basket, Reggio ha in pugno Polonara" [Basketball, Reggio has Polonara in its hands]. Gazzetta di Reggio (in Italian). Reggio Emilia. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
^ "Triennale per Achile Polonara" [Achille Polonara for three years]. Pallacanestro Reggiana (in Italian). 22 July 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
^ "Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia – Stats (2014-15)". Eurocup Basketball. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
^ "Regular Season Round 7 co-MVPs: Achille Polonara, Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia and Romeo Travis, Krasny Oktyabr Volgograd". Eurocup Basketball. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
^ "Serie A, 2014/2015". Pallacanestro Reggiana (in Italian). Archived from the original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
^ "Basket, i premi Gazzetta: Samuels giocatore dell'anno, poi Peric, Brooks e Vitali" [Basketball, the Gazzetta awards: Samuels player of the year before Peric, Brooks and Vitali]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Milan. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
^ "Under20 European Championship 2011: France - Italy". FIBA Europe. 23 July 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
^ "Italy sweep at Trentino cup". FIBA Europe. 28 July 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
^ "Italy sweat over Bargnani health". FIBA Europe. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
^ "Achille Polonara". Federazione Italiana Pallacanestro (in Italian). Retrieved 29 June 2015.
^ "Achille Polonara (Italy)". EuroBasket 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
^ "Italy take their dream roster to Berlin". FIBAEurope.com. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
^ abcd Bortoluzzi, Davide; Neri, Lorenzo (24 December 2012). "Scouting the Draft-Eligible European Prospects: Achille Polonara". Eurohopes.com. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
^ ab ""Polonair", ala da guerra" [Polonair", war forward]. Gazzetta di Reggio (in Italian). Reggio Emilia. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
^ abcd Givony, Jonathan (3 December 2010). "European Roundup: Dominant Donatas". DraftExpress.com. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
^ abc Pigozzi, Linda (13 May 2015). "Voglio la Grissin Bon in Eurolega fra le big" [I want Grissin Bon in the Euroleague with the bigs]. Gazzetta di Reggio (in Italian). Reggio Emilia. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
^ "Conosciamo meglio Valerio Polonara" [Get to know Valerio Polonara better]. LegaPallacanestro.com (in Italian). 20 November 2014. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
^ "Polonara, Achille – 2013-14 Statistics". Eurocup Basketball. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
^ "Polonara, Achille – 2014-15 Statistics". Eurocup Basketball. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
^ "Polonara Achille - Statistiche individuali" [Polonara Achille - Individual statistics]. Lega Basket Serie A (in Italian). Retrieved 29 June 2015.
External links
Pallacanestro Reggiana profile Retrieved on 16 June 2015.
Lega Basket Serie A profile Retrieved 29 June 2015 (in Italian)
FIBA profile Retrieved on 16 June 2015.
Real GM profile Retrieved on 16 June 2015.
