MIES (Switzerland) - When Golden Players Italia arrive in Greece for the first-ever FIBA Masters Open this year, they will not come as a single team, but as a community.
With twelve teams across men and women categories and close to 180 players and staff travelling together, the Italian delegation will be one of the most visible presences of the inaugural edition.
Founded in 2018 and active across several Italian regions, Golden Players Italia represents a new way of living and breathing basketball that goes way beyond the traditional competitive pathway.
Golden Players brings together former professional players from top-level Italian leagues and also national team players to line up alongside committed amateurs who have never lost their connection to the game and their love for the sport.
This includes former national players such as Renato Villalta, who is now the Honorary President of Golden Players and who competed in numerous FIBA World Cups, EuroBaskets, and Olympic Games, along with Ilisaine Karen David and Tania Seino Barbon, who both represented their respective countries on the international stage, as well as playing in the EuroLeague Women and EuroCup Women.
While some players have known each other for decades, there are others who have joined the Golden Players community more recently. What unites them is not their past and length of membership - only one common mindset and a shared passion for basketball and the future.
The organization is driven by an unwavering belief that sport should remain meaningful and accessible at every stage of life. Very much a tool not only for competition, but also for balance, wellbeing, and personal growth. Golden Players Italia is passionate about inclusion, respect, friendship, responsibility, and positive energy.
Through its wider Golden Circle network, the organization supports inclusive projects, intergenerational activities, and initiatives connecting sport, education, business, and research on active ageing.
"Golden Players is not just a team. It is an international movement built on a shared vision of life, health, and human connection," explained President and Founder, Virgilio Marino.
"We believe in longevity, in an active lifestyle, and in the power of sport to create strong human and professional relationships," he added.
For Golden Players Italia, the FIBA Masters Open 2026 represents a moment they had long anticipated. An official global platform dedicated to Masters basketball, organized with vision and long-term ambition.
"Masters basketball is a rebirth," hailed Marino.
It gives players a second chance to dream, set new goals, and relive the enthusiasm they had as teenagers. It proves that sport has no expiration date.
"We had been waiting for this moment for years. Masters' basketball deserved an official global stage, and we strongly believe that FIBA can lead a new future for millions of players worldwide."
He continued: "Being part of this first edition is a historic milestone for us. It means that our dream of giving athletes a future in sport and in life after their competitive career is becoming a reality."
Perfectly encapsulating the spirit of what FIBA Masters Open 2026 is all about, Golden Players Italia will arrive with ambition and a desire to compete with real purpose. The teams are determined to demonstrate that FIBA Masters basketball is not only well‑structured but also highly competitive and played at a very high level.
Yet at the same time, they are acutely aware that success can be defined more broadly. Winning matters, but it is not the only objective. A successful inaugural event will be one that creates memories, builds friendships, and opens new international connections.
That balance between competitiveness and enjoyment is at the very core of the Golden Players Italia identity. They are determined to cherish the human and social side of the experience. From shared meals to celebrations and informal moments when the strongest bonds are often formed, a focus on winning comes alongside creating memories, building friendships, and opening new international connections.
"We want to show that Masters basketball can be inspiring and competitive at the highest level," stressed Marino.
The social moments are the true heart of Masters basketball since it is where authentic relationships are born.
Families will also be a big part of the journey for Golden Players Italia, with partners, children, and friends travelling alongside the teams. It reinforces the idea that the FIBA Master Open 2026 is a shared life experience, not just a basketball event.
This was no better highlighted than after a recent training session, when four players from the men's 65+ team realized they were sitting in the same car, in the same seats, heading to a pizzeria, exactly as they had done 40 years earlier. The laughter and emotion of this realization are perfect examples of what they call the 'Golden Spirit'.
"It's a lifestyle," smiled Marino.
"A way of being fair on and off the court, committing to physical wellbeing, and helping others feel better too.”
And that's why their presence at the FIBA Masters Open 2026 is not only about participation but will also contribute to a broader, positive vision for the future of the sport and the global 40+ basketball community.
The message of Marino and his colleagues is clear.
"This is your moment. Join us and become part of a global movement that proves sport has no age and that the best years of your life can still be ahead."
Thousands of players will be stepping out from July 4 to 12 in the Attica and Corinth region of Greece and writing their names into FIBA history.
Open to basketball and 3x3 teams from around the world, with age rather than experience as the only criteria; it's set to be an exceptional week of competition, friendship, and most importantly, a celebration of how basketball has the power and unique ability to unite people.
FIBA