Italy’s Under-16 Team Triumphs in Iscar Tournament Opener
The Italian Under-16 national team kicked off their Iscar tournament campaign in Spain with a resounding victory, defeating Castilla y Leon 84-65. Led by Coach Marco Sodini, the Azzurri rallied after a tough first quarter to dominate the rest of the game.
A Strong Start, Then a Surge
Despite falling behind in the opening minutes, the Italian squad quickly found their rhythm. The Azzurri’s offensive firepower proved too much for Castilla y Leon to handle, with Jacopo Vogogna and Alesandro Alba leading the charge, each scoring 13 points. Chouenkam and Bonomi also turned in impressive performances, both contributing 10 points to the team’s tally.
This victory sets a strong tone for Italy’s tournament aspirations. “We are happy with the win,” said Coach Sodini. “The team showed great character to come back after a difficult start. We are confident about the remainder of the competition.”
Looking Ahead: Group B Standings
Italy now sits atop Group B with a 1-0 record, followed by Greece (0-0) and Castilla y Leon (0-1). The Azzurri’s next opponent is Greece, with the game scheduled for Saturday, December 7th at 6:00 PM.
Spain, Czechia, and Germany make up Group A.
Detailed Statistics
Italy-Castilla y Leon 84-65 (20-24, 21-7, 22-17, 21-17)
Italia:
Machetti* 3 (1/5, 0/2), Vogogna 13 (2/5, 3/6), Modanese 5 (1/4, 1/4), Bonomi* 10 (2/5, 1/2), Chouenkam
10 (5/9), Nicolodi 7 (3/3), Rinaldini 6 (1/3, 0/2), Dalla Bernardina* 3 (1/2 from three), Ruggeri 6* (2/4), Alba* 13 (6/9), Bracesco 6 (2/3, 0/1), Bagordo 2 (0/1). All. Sodini.
Castile and Leon:
Gomez* 6 (3/5), Hernandez 6 (2/7), Pascual, Basante 6 (2/2 to three), Agreda 5 (1/3, 0/1), Alvarez* 6 (3/5), Hernansanz 4 (0/2 to three), Vrban* 13 (3/5), De Larrea 2* (1/5, 0/3), Valverde 7 (3/5), Lozano* 8 (4/5), Nogueira 2 (1/2). Other: Gonzalez.
All races will be live streamed here.
Who did Coach Sodini say played a real team effort, beyond Jacopo Vogogna and Alesandro Alba?
## Italian Youth Shine in Iscar Tournament Debut
**Interviewer:** Welcome back to the show! Today we’re talking about a fantastic win for Italy’s under-16 basketball team in the opening match of the Iscar tournament in Spain. Joining us is Coach Marco Sodini, who led the Azzurri to a storming victory over Castilla y Leon. Coach, congratulations on the win. What are your initial thoughts?
**Coach Sodini:** Thanks for having me. We’re obviously very happy with the result. It was a good test for us against a competitive Castilla y Leon side, and I’m proud of how the boys responded after a tough start.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned a tough start. Could you tell us a bit more about how the game unfolded?
**Coach Sodini:** We struggled a bit in the opening quarter, but the boys kept their composure and found their rhythm in the second. Our offense really clicked, and we dominated on both ends of the court.
**Interviewer:** There were some standout performances individually. Jacopo Vogogna and Alesandro Alba both scored 13 points. What impressed you most about their contribution?
**Coach Sodini:** Jacopo and Alesandro showed great leadership and composure. They were both aggressive on offense and played smart, controlled basketball. But it was a real team effort. Chouenkam and Bonomi also played superbly, putting up 10 points each, and everyone on the bench contributed.
**Interviewer:** This is just the start of the tournament. What are your hopes for the rest of the competition?
**Coach Sodini:** We’re definitely aiming to build on this momentum. This win gives us confidence, and we’re excited to face the challenges ahead. We want to play our best basketball and see how far we can go.
**Interviewer:** Well, we’ll be watching closely! Thanks for your time, Coach Sodini, and best of luck to the Azzurri in the rest of the tournament.
