Pallacanestro Trieste has announced the signing of Abramo Canka to a multi-year contract. The 2002-born guard/forward joins the club after spending last season between Virtus Bologna in Serie A and Pallacanestro Roseto in Serie A2.
Canka found increased playing time and consistency during his stint with Roseto, averaging 9.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
General manager Michael Arcieri highlighted the new signing’s potential, athleticism, versatility and competitive mentality. Trieste believes Canka can immediately raise the team’s level, particularly with his ability to play in transition and contribute in multiple areas of the game.
Head coach Francesco Taccetti was already familiar with Canka from his early years with Stella Azzurra and Roseto. Taccetti stressed the player’s development and motivation to prove that he can make a significant impact at the highest level of Italian basketball.
Born in Genoa on March 18, 2002, Canka began playing basketball as a child after initially developing a passion for soccer. At the age of 14, he left Liguria to join the renowned Stella Azzurra Roma academy, where he quickly emerged as an intriguing prospect on the international stage.
In 2020, Canka was selected to the All-Tournament Team at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament in Munich after averaging 16.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
His professional debut had already come at just 16 years old with the Roseto Sharks in Serie A2. Canka subsequently embarked on an international career that included a move to Lokomotiv Kuban followed by two seasons in Lithuania with Nevėžis.
The Italian wing later moved to the United States to continue his development in the NCAA. After experiences with high-profile programs UCLA and Wake Forest, he found a larger role at Stetson University. During the 2024-25 season, Canka averaged 8.7 points and 4.5 rebounds and recorded his NCAA career-high with 22 points against Oklahoma.
He returned to Europe in 2025, signing with Italian champion Virtus Bologna before moving to Roseto on loan in search of more playing time and rhythm.
Canka has also gained considerable experience with Italy’s youth national teams. He stood out at the 2018 U16 European Championship and the 2022 U20 European Championship, where he finished as Italy’s second-leading scorer.
At 1.98 meters, Canka is an athletic and versatile perimeter player capable of covering multiple positions. His strengths include his ability to run the floor in transition, attack the offensive glass and use his length to defend point guards, shooting guards and small forwards.
Trieste believes those qualities will make him an ideal fit for a system built around defensive intensity, athleticism and an up-tempo style of play.
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