Turin, 4 August (LaPresse) – Mourning in the world of Italian basketball. Marco Bonamico, a symbol of Virtus Bologna and former player for Fortitudo, has died at the age of 68. He had been hospitalised for several weeks at the Bellaria Hospital in Bologna. Nicknamed “Il Marine”, he won the European title in Nantes in 1983 and the silver medal at the Moscow Olympics in 1980 while playing for Italy. ‘He leaves behind fond memories as an athlete and as a man in every sphere in which he was involved,’ said the Italian Basketball Federation in a statement. ‘FIP president Giovanni Petrucci, moved and saddened by the news, on behalf of himself and Italian basketball, extends his condolences to the family.’ At club level, he won two championships in different eras with Virtus and two Italian Cups. Once his playing career was over (he also played for Siena, Milan, Naples, Forlì and Udine), he did not leave basketball: he was president of Legadue and a television commentator with Rai. In 2004, he commented on Italbasket's silver medal in Athens alongside the late Franco Lauro.