Virtus's success story: Manuel saw his dream come true

Playing sport while having a disability is full of different difficulties, but for Manuel, a 23-year-old from Bologna, his love for basketball went to new heights thanks to the work of Virtus Segafredo Bologna and its One Team program. While he had encountered problems when playing wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis, the sport of Baskin suited him to a T – and Virtus's One Team sessions helped bring out the best parts of Manuel's personality.

First of all, perhaps it is important to explain Baskin a little. Baskin is a very inclusive sport in which players with no disability are able to play alongside people with different levels of issues, thanks to a series of specific rules that ensure everyone involved can take part and try to win.

As a big fan of Virtus and someone who picked up Baskin at 22, Manuel was naturally very excited to join the Italian club's One Team program. Playing at center for PGS Welcome Baskin Bologna, where he is one of the team's main scorers, he found a sport in Baskin that made him feel comfortable as it brings together many different people with different conditions.

Through One Team, Manuel saw his dream come true as he scored a basket in front of 9,000 people at Virtus Segafredo Arena during halftime of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game between Virtus and FC Barcelona. In fact, Manuel was taken aback by the chance to score a basket in front of his fellow Virtus supporters; so much so that he didn’t even remember what happened in the first half and later cried with happiness for two days.

There were several key learning moments for Manuel during the One Team program, such as acting as a Baskin teacher to Virtus and Magika Pallacanestro's youth-team players. He also had a special conversation with Virtus's One Team ambassador last season, Kyle Weems, who was taught the rules of Baskin by Manuel. Fellow Virtus player Daniel Hackett was another who was able to discover the incredible sport of Baskin.

After speaking with the likes of Weems and Hackett, Manuel was able to see his basketball idols as normal people who have their own strengths and difficulties. What's more, by playing Baskin with players from Virtus and Magika's youth setup, Manuel hopes that they now understand the importance of inclusion both on and off the court.

Prior to his experience with One Team, Manuel felt anxious when preparing to play a game of Baskin. However, it didn’t take long for him to understand the importance of focusing on doing his best to help his team. Baskin may have been part of Manuel's life prior to One Team, but Virtus's project helped him – and the others – feel a sense of togetherness, which in turn aided their growth as individuals.

One of the main things that helped Manuel and the group get a better understanding of themselves were the sit-down chats that the One Team participants had following the Baskin sessions. There, they would discuss what happened on the court in a calm, tranquil manner.

PGS Welcome Baskin Bologna, Virtus and Magika all worked in unison throughout the One Team program, with all three teams now cheering each other on whenever they have games. Manuel was able to complete one of his dreams thanks to Virtus and One Team, and it is an experience that he will never forget.