Basket Retro Moments | “The Battle of Limoges `83”!

Intro!
“Basketball was tougher. Against Yugoslavia, Sacchetti grabbed their point guard by the ear, Kicanovic kicked me in the groin, Gamba stood up with the bench. A player pulled out a pair of blunt scissors from his medical bag; he was afraid of Dino. Slaps flew. We beat Yugoslavia: we understood what it means to be all for one, one for all.” – Villalta!

Villalta, Bob Hill and Dan Peterson

The Singer Lucio Dalla alongside 2.16 m Augusto Binelli of Granarolo di Bologna

Limoges, Palais des Sport de Beaublanc
Monday, May 30, 1983
Local Time: 8;00 Pm
It`s European Preliminary decisive Match Group “A” between Yugoslavia and Italy.

Italy was in a tough group, along with Yugoslavia, Spain, Greece, Sweden, and hosts France. The top two advanced to the semifinals, further complicating matters was Limoges’ hostility toward the Azzurri. This was a legacy of tense history between the local team and “Banco Roma”, a controversy that dated back to a Korac match the previous season.

In the final round, Italy faces Yugoslavia, whom they haven’t beaten in seven years. If the Italians lose by two or more points, they are eliminated from the medal round.

The Italian coach is asked: “How are you going to stop them (Yugoslavians)?
– I’ll give my team a P38,” Gamba jokes on the eve of the match, but unfortunately, the result is not far from what happened on the field.

Five minutes before the end, 73-62 for the Italians, a fight breaks out that will go down in history on the wrong side: the fuse is lit after a Gilardi-Petrović clash. A few seconds later, Cesare Rubini is also on the field, hitting the ball from above while Grbovic brandishes a pair of scissors.

The fight involves everyone, with Kicanović particularly lively in the ring. The French gendarmerie was needed to calm things down, but the match was no longer in doubt, Italy won easily: they feared disqualification, but after a night of negotiations between the Federations, an amnesty was agreed and Italy could face the semi-final against the Netherlands with a full squad!

1.
The glorious basketball history of the “Plavi” (Yugoslavian national team) inevitably includes some moments that are not considered honorable. Events that tarnish and stain the pages of their Bible of triumphs. One such dark moment occurred in 1983 at the EuroBasket in France.

The Yugoslavian team, led by Josip Gjergja, consisted of veterans like Ćosić and Slavnić, a middle generation of stars like Dalipagić, Kićanović, and Radovanović, and young talents such as Grbović, Savović, and a bold 19-year-old who had already started making a name for himself across Europe.

The game on May 30 against Italy in Limoges was a do-or-die match for Gjergja’s squad, who absolutely needed a win to keep their hopes of reaching the semifinals alive.

Initially, it seemed they were on the right track. The Plavi led 36–42 at halftime and only needed to maintain their momentum in the second half. But determined to turn things around, the Azzurri, coached by Sandro Gamba, entered the court with renewed intensity. They had already shown their intentions in the first half, when Bonamico’s elbow landed on Kićanović’s neck and shoulder, forcing him out of the game with an injury.

With the leniency of the referees, the Italians—led by Meneghin—used a defense so aggressive it bordered on unsportsmanlike. They flipped the game on its head and with five minutes remaining, were leading 74–62.

At that point, Dražen Petrović was fouled hard by Gilardi, and the young “Mozart” retaliated with a kick that was the spark igniting the explosion. Meneghin and Sacchetti went after Vilfan (with Meo pulling the Yugoslav’s hair and backing off only when confronted by Dino’s imposing presence), and just as things seemed to be calming down, the injured Kićanović, who had entered the court supposedly to pacify the situation, seized the opportunity to take revenge for the earlier hit.

While he appeared to be calmly talking to Villalta, he suddenly delivered a kick worthy of Ralph Macchio in Karate Kid, right to the Italian’s sensitive region—causing a pain all men can relate to. In the blink of an eye, the court in Beaublanc turned into a boxing ring, with punches and kicks flying in every direction.

The most hot-blooded of them all, Grbović, ran to the team doctor’s portable kit, grabbed a pair of scissors, and threatened to gut Sacchetti, while Italian journalists took the side of their compatriots and used typewriter covers to beat Kićanović, who had fled up to the press box to escape the fury of a raging Meneghin.

Eventually, calmer heads prevailed, and the battlefield was restored to an athletic arena. The game resumed and ended with Italy victorious on their path to the gold medal. For Yugoslavia, it marked the end of an era and the realization that the national team needed a fresh start.
“The Battle of Limoges” or “The Battle of the Scissors” hastened the handover of the keys to Dražen, and the Plavi—always pioneers—soon got back on the right track. EuroBasket stories…

That particular game was also the baptism of Dražen Petrovic`

Game: ITALY vs YUGOSLAVIA (Group A) 91-76
Date: 30 May 1983
Time:18;00
City/Arena: Limoges / Palais des Sport

Italia: Caglieris; Tonut; Bonamico; Gilardi; Costa; Brunamonti; Villalta; Meneghin; Riva; Vecchiato; Marzoratti; Sacchetti
Coach: Sando Gamba

Yougoslavia: D. Petrovic`; Kicanovic`; Grbovic`; Zizic`; Sunara; Poljak; Slavnic`; Cosic`; Radovanovic`; Vilfan; Dalibagic`; Savovic`
Coach: Josip Gjergja.