Achille Polonara's name was greeted with a standing ovation at the Palaserradimigni presentation. The former Dinamo and national team winger joined the coaching staff of Avellino, today's opponent of the Sassari team, last summer.
Polonara has a special bond with Sassari: he won the 2019 Europa Cup, coming close to winning the Scudetto a few months later. The white-and-blue club let him go so he could fulfill his dream of playing in the Euroleague. Struck by an acute form of myeloid leukemia last year, he was welcomed back by president Stefano Sardara, who recalled him to the team, naturally without setting a time limit for his return, given the severity of the disease that struck him and required a bone marrow transplant.
Polonara even tried to resume training, but last May he announced his retirement. Sassari welcomed him back with undiminished affection.