This afternoon, at the Varese office of our partner Seconda Strada, a press conference was held to introduce Stefan Nikolic and Hale Haunter.
Here are their statements:
Stefan Nikolic
“The Varese project has really filled me with enthusiasm. I realized right away that it wasn’t just talk, but a real movement—something that this club and this city deserve. Pressure because of my last name and my jersey number? I know I have a head start in that regard, but for me, wearing number 11 also has special meaning, because it was the number my father wore when he played basketball. Last year with Venice, no one expected us to go this far, but the guys proved they have a lot of talent and, above all, a strong desire to win. For me, it was an important experience that adds to my personal and athletic background—something I’ll try to bring to Varese this year. On the court, I enjoy playing any position; my adaptability allows me to be versatile and make myself available to the team, always with the goal of making my contribution and achieving our goals together.”.
Hunter Hale
“I’m really happy to be in Varese and excited about the season ahead—I can’t wait for it to start. Playing alongside Della Valle? We have similar playing styles, and I think that can be an added benefit. But basketball is a team sport, so there will be times when I’ll have more responsibility and other times when he will. The important thing is to support each other and cheer each other on, because the goal is always to help the team win. I’ve already played two seasons in the Basketball Champions League, and I know just how competitive it is. Those games let you test yourself at a different level and require a special approach. I hope to play more BCL games, because having an extra commitment during the week would also be important for making the league even more exciting and competitive. Our determination is very high, and we have a clear vision of the goal we want to achieve. We have a very good, strong team with great ambitions. We want to be consistently present and aggressive, especially on our own half of the court.”.