Anwil Wloclawek has enhaced its roster with the first Italian player in Tauron Basket Liga. Andrea Crosariol, a 30-year-old center who had already played in the Euroleague and in the biggest tournaments like EuroBasket 2007, has signed a one-year deal with the team. The new guy is supposed to make his debut on Sunday against Wilki Morskie Szczecin.
In the chorus of the Polish anthem, there is a line 'From the Italian land to Poland' which describes the return of the Polish general hero Jan Henryk Dabrowski to his homelandy. Well... Poland is not Andrea Crosariol's homeland, however he's the first player from the Apennine Peninsula who has found a way to the Tauron Basket Liga league. There were no native Italians before him what seems to be a positive signal.
Anwil Wloclawek has been struggling since the beginning of the season and has lost first three games. Crosariol is the guy who is supposed to turn everything upside down and help the team start playing on the level that is still expected by everyone in Wloclawek. He is going to make his debut on Sunday, against Wilki Morskie Szczecin.
Crosariol is a 6'11 tall typical center who has got much experience. He played in the NCAA and after coming back, he started his basketball journey in Italy. Playing for teams from Bologna, Rome and Avellino, he was turning into a very promising player who reached the level of the Italy NT in 2007 before the EuroBasket in Spain.
Last summer, firstly Crosariol was trying to get a contract in Laboral Kutxa but unsuccessfully. Then he landed in German EWE Baskets Oldenburg, but in January he left that team for Italian Umana Reyer Venezia. Playing in Bundesliga, he was a teammate of Anwil's current forward Konrad Wysocki. Now both guys will be playing next to each other in Wloclawek.
- We needed a big guy who could join us immediately. Andrea is experienced and he's got an ability to play in the system. I am sure he's gonna meet our expectations - says the headcoach Mariusz Niedbalski.
Both sides have signatured a deal till the end of the current season. Nevertheless, the player wanted the option of terminating the deal with the end of the 2014 year to be put in the agreement. If Crosariol doesn't use this option, he will play for the Rottweilers till June.