Italians keen on Spithill but slam TNZ-UK plan Frustrations build as Breakers lose again
Luna Rossa want to keep Jimmy Spithill with a long-term vision for the America’s Cup beyond a deed of gift challenge between New Zealand and Britain they describe as ‘‘a farce’’.
The Italians have moved quickly to secure their future after losing the America’s Cup match 7-3 to Team New Zealand in Auckland last week.
Skipper and team director Max Sirena told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera the syndicate had already signed up 90 per cent of their current design team for the next campaign.
Sirena, who instigated Luna Rossa’s revolutionary co-helmsmen approach, wants both of the men on the wheels, Spithill and Francesco Bruni, back as they look at their sailing crew.
‘‘My goal is to confirm Jimmy and Checco, which was great,’’ he said.
The tough new nationality rules being implemented by Team New
Zealand and new challenger of record Team UK will limit movement of the current bunch of sailors. But Spithill, a two-time Cup winner with vast experience and huge competitiveness, could still be a target.
Spithill would be allowed to stay with Luna Rossa, having spent two of the last three years in Italy as required under the new protocol. He could also qualify for an Australian team if a challenge eventuated from his country of birth, while he could be a target for a wealthy emerging nation like China, which has dispensation to bring in foreign sailors.
Luna Rossa are making plans for an America’s Cup regatta in 2023 or 2024 and are eager to hear Team New Zealand’s formal intentions. Sirena has not been impressed by continued speculation around a mid-cycle deed of gift challenge between Team New Zealand and Team UK in Britain, possibly as early as next year.
‘‘A dual event would be a disaster for the whole America’s Cup world, as well as a farce,’’ Sirena told Corriere della Sera.
Sirena, 49, who has won the America’s Cup with Oracle (2010) and Team New Zealand (2017), confirmed he is eager to stay involved though he said the next challenge would be his last.
Breakers coach Dan Shamir chose his words carefully in the wake of a controversial Australian NBL defeat to Melbourne United that digs them even deeper into a hole.
The Breakers lost their fourth game on the bounce, and fifth in the last six, 82-79 against Melbourne in Bendigo on Thursday night after squandering an 18-point lead and being outscored 44-25 in the second half. They are now 4-11, with hope fading fast of a season turnaround.
But the Kiwi club – playing without injured star Corey Webster, departed starting centre Rob Loe and dumped import Lamar Patterson – can’t catch a break as they fulfil their obligations a never-ending road trip.
On Thursday night they saw both big man Colton Iverson and key sharpshooter Rasmus Bach foul out on contentious calls.
Iverson’s, in particular, just 1minute 6 seconds into the final quarter cut deep as the big American picked up a technical to follow a doubtful fourth infringement to depart the contest after just 21 minutes of court time.
At that stage the Breakers were still leading 70-61, but with their lone genuine big man done for the night, it was always going to be a tough battle to hold out the fast-finishing Victorians.
‘‘The guys are fighting. It’s tough and we’re battling through everything,’’ Shamir told Stuff after the game, rather through gritted teeth.
‘‘I don’t want to be a bad loser and complain, but we came into this game and it’s so important for us and we play like we play, not a perfect game, but we built a lead [54-38 at halftime].
‘‘Then, when you look at the stat sheet, Colton Iverson in the 21 minutes he played was plus-22 in plus/minus (the Breakers outscored Melbourne by 22 when he was on court). He managed 18 minutes in the first half, and we were up 18 with him on the floor.
Then we lose him ... Colton has fouled out the last three games in a row. Last game he played 14 minutes.
‘‘As a comparison last year he played 30-something games in the Euroleague and VTB (Russia), a very physical league, and he fouled out twice the whole season.’’
They meet Brisbane on tonight, then head to Perth and South East Melbourne next week. Tough contests all, with reinforcements probably still not on board.