Matteo Spagnolo will get his first taste of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague basketball next season after joining ALBA Berlin on a three-year deal the club announced Wednesday. Spagnolo (1.94 meters, 20 years old) made his BKT EuroCup debut in the 2022-23 campaign, averaging 11.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists and a 12.3 PIR in 13 games for Dolomiti Energia Trento. A product of Stella Azzurra Roma and Real Madrid's academies, the Italian has the opportunity to display his potential on the biggest stage in Europe following his move to ALBA.
ALBA signs promising guard Matteo Spagnolo
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An impressive EuroCup season
Despite Trento's struggles last season, with the team going 4-14 through its 18 EuroCup regular-season games, the 20-year-old guard showed just why he is regarded as one of the best up-and-coming players on the continent. In fact, Spagnolo displayed his ability to both score the basketball and act as the lead playmaker.
Spagnolo reached double digits for points in all but three of the games he played in, twice breaking the 20-point barrier – he had 23 points against Gran Canaria in Round 15 and 21 points against Veolia Towers Hamburg in Round 17 – while he also had seven games with at least 5 assists.
In those two games against Gran Canaria and Hamburg, in particular, Spagnolo finished with season-best PIR marks, having had a season-high 29 PIR in Round 15 and a 28 PIR in Round 17. He ended the EuroCup campaign playing some of his best basketball, and he now has the chance to bring his talents to the EuroLeague.
Joining a compatriot at ALBA
Spagnolo will get the chance to play alongside fellow Italian prospect Gabriele Procida, who showed glimpses of his potential in his rookie EuroLeague season. Procida started in four of his 27 appearances for ALBA in the 2022-23 campaign, posting 5.7 points, 1.8 rebounds and a 4.0 PIR in 14:34 minutes on the court. The shooting guard reached double figures on seven occasions, notably scoring a season-high 16 points in 18 minutes on the floor in Round 22 against AS Monaco.
Next season, Spagnolo and Procida, two of Italy's best prospects, will play alongside each other at ALBA as they look to continue their development and make an impact in the EuroLeague. ALBA fans should get ready for some exciting plays involving the Italian duo in the upcoming campaign.