Tonino Zorzi
Antonio "Tonino" Zorzi (10 June 1935 – 19 August 2023) was an Italian professional basketball player and head coach. He was nicknamed Paròn.
Tonino Zorzi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 10 June 1935 |
| Died | 19 August 2023 (aged 88) Gorizia, Italy |
Life and career
Born in Gorizia, Zorzi started playing basket in his city team Goriziana before moving to Pallacanestro Varese, with whom he won the title as Serie A top scorer in the 1954–55 season as well as the team's first Scudetto in 1961.[1][2] He also played 22 matches with the Italian national team, making his debut at EuroBasket 1953.[1] After his retirement in 1962, Zorzi started a long and fruitful career as head coach, whose achievements include five promotions from A2 to Serie A and the 1970 victory of the FIBA Saporta Cup with Partenope Napoli Basket.[1][2] He also served as the vice coach of Sandro Gamba in the Italian national team, winning a silver medal at EuroBasket 1991.[1][2]
During his career Zorzi received various honors, including the induction in the Italian Basketball Hall of Fame[3] and in the Pallacanestro Varese Hall of Fame, in which he was named best player of all time.[4] He died on 19 August 2023, at the age of 88.[1]
References
- Cito, Cosimo (19 August 2023). "Tonino Zorzi, è morto il "Paron" del basket italiano". la Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- Tosi, Andrea (19 August 2023). "Lutto nel basket, è morto a 88 anni Tonino Zorzi". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- "Basket, morto a 88 anni Tonino Zorzi: era nella Italia Hall of Fame". Sky TG24 (in Italian). 19 August 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- Petrelli, Marino (19 August 2023). "Tonino Zorzi, morto l'allenatore a 88 anni. Era il "Paròn" del basket italiano". Il Mattino (in Italian). Retrieved 8 September 2023.
