The Sydney Kings in NBL25 have a lot of fresh faces, such as recruits Bul Kuol, Cam Oliver, and Keli Leaupepe. Francesco Berre, the team’s new head of strength and conditioning, is another new face that hasn’t been in Sydney before. After collaborating with Brian Goorjian and Billy Tomlinson at the Bay Area Dragons, Berre is thrilled to contribute to the winning culture of the Hoops Captail club. “I love to win – being in an environment that wants to succeed helps you grow,” Berre stated. It’s about always aiming high and accepting the discomfort that accompanies going above and beyond our comfort zones in order to accomplish greatness.
“I enjoy pushing myself to go outside of my comfort zone, and playing for a team as dominant as the Kings provides the ideal setting for that.
“The decision was further bolstered by the opportunity to work for a team that is competitive and by the ownership of legendary players like Andrew Bogut and Luc Longley. Their presence denotes a dedication to winning and a thorough comprehension of what it takes to succeed. Last but not least, I was really drawn to the chance to collaborate with Brian Goorjian and Billy Tomlinson once more. It is quite motivating to be around legendary players that are full of energy and vast game knowledge.
“It’s an environment where I can grow, learn, and contribute to a team driven by a collective goal: winning another championship.”
Italian-born, Berre began his career in professional sports in 2010 when he joined the performance staff of Montepaschi Siena, the most successful team in Italy, following his graduation from sports science in his home country. In addition to winning two Italian titles and making it to one Euroleague Final Four during that two-year stay, Berre’s team also served as the impetus for his next trip in his basketball career. Speaking Mandarin fluently, Berre recalled, “I became good friends with Bohdan Babijczuk, his personal strength and conditioning coach, when David Andersen was playing there in my second year.” “The following year, Bohdan gave Nik Popovic my recommendation for a position in China with the Dongguan Leopards’ young division.
“I took a risk and traveled to China without knowing anything about the experience; I had always wanted to coach overseas. “I played with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association for eight years, two of those years in Urumqi and six in Dongguan. “After China, I moved to the Philippines, where he presently resides, and I was able to secure employment with the Bay Area Dragons of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and East Asia Super League (EASL). “[Most recently] last season, I was in South Korea as [former NBA player] Andrew Nicholson’s personal strength and conditions coach.”
Berre is confident that his extensive experience will be a valuable addition to the Harbour City-based team. Berre expressed her excitement about working in a well-oiled organization like the Kings, where everyone is working towards the same goal. “I bring a combination of expertise in strength and conditioning to the Kings, backed by extensive multicultural and international experience,” she added. Working with athletes from a variety of backgrounds has given me the opportunity to learn how to modify my strategy to fit the specific requirements of each individual. “I’m a valuable asset to the team because of my upbeat attitude and sincere desire to support athletes in reaching their greatest potential.
“Although I have a minor impact on the team’s overall performance as a strength and conditioning coach, my true influence comes from assisting individual players in realizing their physical potential. “I think that by concentrating on their own development, we can all work together to improve the team’s performance. Furthermore, my involvement in endurance sports, such as triathlons and half-ironman competitions during COVID-19, has imbued me with a resilient and persistent mindset. “I’ve learnt to ignore my mind’s requests to stop or offer an explanation when they arise.
“I try to live up to this ‘never-give-up, push-beyond-your-limits’ philosophy and want to instill it in the players as well. “We can achieve great things together by fostering a relentless pursuit of excellence.” Though he joined the squad in June during their off-season, Berre acknowledges that his first few months in purple and gold have been both rewarding and difficult. “We started with a small group of players and gradually integrated more, each coming from different backgrounds, off-season routines, and varying levels of conditioning,” he explained. “The training program has been arranged progressively by the basketball staff, making it easy for everyone to move into a full routine.
This methodical approach has enabled us to establish a strong base for the upcoming season. “In addition, I have a great working relationship with David Hillard, the head of sports science and sports medicine at Hoops Capital, and the medical staff, who have helped integrate new players according to their particular needs and health tests. “The degree of cooperation and communication has been exceptional, which is essential for preserving player well-being and maximizing efficiency. “I anticipated a significant emphasis on utilizing cutting-edge technology for great performance coming from a well-known NBL team like the Kings, and I haven’t been let down. “Every facet of our work here demonstrates our dedication to quality.
“So far, I have a lot of optimism for the club since the players and staff have a wonderful feeling of chemistry, energy, and passion. “Everyone is devoted to reaching our objectives and is passionate about what we do. “I’m proud to be a part of this team and excited about what we can accomplish together.”
In the future, the 41-year-old has set goals for his NBL debut season. “My main goal this season with the Kings is to help each player reach their peak performance individually and as a team,” he stated. In order to maintain everyone at their best, this entails boosting physical capabilities, encouraging mental resilience, and guaranteeing optimal recovery. “My goal is to establish a high-performance atmosphere by working together with the medical team and coaching staff, applying cutting-edge training techniques and data-driven insights to obtain a competitive advantage. “I want to instill in the Kings organization a long-lasting culture of excellence and ongoing development.
This will eventually help the club thrive this season and in the future. It encompasses long-term player development, injury prevention, and an all-encompassing approach to athlete welfare.”