Sandro Gamba
Encyclopedia
Alessandro Gamba better known as Sandro Gamba, is an Italian basketball
coach and former professional basketball player.
He played for several teams, winning ten Italian championships, and also captained the Italian national team
(for which he had debuted in 1952) at the 1960 Summer Olympics
. Gamba retired from play in 1965 and became a coach in the top Italian professional league, Serie A
, where he coached teams from Olimpia Milano
(1965-1973), Pallacanestro Varese
(1973-1977), Pallacanestro Torino (1977-1980) and Virtus Bologna
(1985-1987).
From 1979 to 1992, except for a break in 1985-1987, Gamba was the coach of the national team and led them at the Olympic Games in 1980
(where they won a silver medal), in 1984
, in 1988
, and in 1992
, and also at the European Basketball Championship
seven times, winning a gold in 1983, a bronze in 1985, and a silver in 1991.
Gamba was a finalist for induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame
in 2005 and was elected as a member in 2006.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach and former professional basketball player.
He played for several teams, winning ten Italian championships, and also captained the Italian national team
Italy national basketball team
The Italian national basketball team is the national basketball team representing Italy. It is administrated by the Federazione Italiana Pallacanestro ....
(for which he had debuted in 1952) at the 1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
. Gamba retired from play in 1965 and became a coach in the top Italian professional league, Serie A
Serie A (basketball)
Lega Basket Serie A is the highest level club competition in Italian professional basketball where play determines the national champion. The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 30 games, followed by an eight-team playoff round. Quarterfinals and semifinals series are best-of-five, and...
, where he coached teams from Olimpia Milano
Olimpia Milano
Olimpia Milano is a Lega Basket Italian professional basketball team, based in Milan, Italy, founded in 1936 by Milan businessman Adolfo Bogoncelli. Its colors are red and white, and the team is sometimes referred as "Scarpette Rosse" because team officials imported from the United States red...
(1965-1973), Pallacanestro Varese
Pallacanestro Varese
-Notable players:-Notable coaches: Aleksandar Nikolić Nico Messina Sandro Gamba Edoardo Rusconi Joe Isaac Carlo Recalcati Valerio Bianchini Ruben Magnano-Sponsorship names:Through the years, due to sponsorship deals, it has been also known as:...
(1973-1977), Pallacanestro Torino (1977-1980) and Virtus Bologna
Virtus Bologna
-Notable players: Marco Bonamico 9 seasons: '75-'76, '77-'78, '80-'86, '88-'89 Carlo Caglieris 6 seasons: '75-'81 Pietro Generali 6 seasons: '75-'76, '78-'83 Gianni Bertolotti 5 seasons: '75-'80 Terry Driscoll 3 seasons: '75-'78 Eric Luc Leclerc 1 season: '75-'76 Luigi Serafini 2 seasons: '75-'77...
(1985-1987).
From 1979 to 1992, except for a break in 1985-1987, Gamba was the coach of the national team and led them at the Olympic Games in 1980
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
(where they won a silver medal), in 1984
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
, in 1988
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
, and in 1992
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
, and also at the European Basketball Championship
Eurobasket
The EuroBasket, also referred to as the FIBA European Basketball Championship, is the main basketball competition contested biennially by the men's national teams governed by FIBA Europe, the European zone within the International Basketball Federation. The championship was first held in 1935 and...
seven times, winning a gold in 1983, a bronze in 1985, and a silver in 1991.
Gamba was a finalist for induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame
Basketball Hall of Fame
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
in 2005 and was elected as a member in 2006.