2023-09-03 10:20:00
With four teams equally matched in Group I, Italy’s encounter with Puerto Rico was one of Sunday’s cutthroats for a place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. And in this little game, it was Simone Fontecchio and her friends who took over thanks to a controlled fourth quarter.
When Italy fell to the Dominican Republic in the first round of the World Cup, it was hard to see Gianmarco Pozzecco’s men qualify for the quarter-finals. But they will be there.
After their exploit against Serbia two days ago, the Italians did the job against Puerto Rico (73-57) this morning in Manila, thus winning their ticket for the rest of the competition. However, for almost 30 minutes of play, the Squadra azzurra had their hands a little shaky: 3/22 to 3-points for the band in Fontecchio, really not great in a match that should not be lost. But despite this chronic awkwardness, Italy very often took the lead. Because as much as the Italians harvested, they outclassed their opponent on the rebound (48-29 in total, 19 offensive rebounds, 22 points on second chance) to win the battle for possessions, also helped by Puerto Rican ball losses. And when it came to concluding in the fourth quarter, Italy put the lid on.
La Squadra regained their 3-point address at the best time thanks to the banderillas of Giampaolo Ricci, Luigi Datome and Simone Fontecchio, while locking down a Puerto Rico team in great lack of offensive inspiration. From 51-47 at the start of the last ten minutes, the score went to 63-50 for Italy then 73-57. Symbol of the offensive difficulties of the Puerto Ricans, Tremont Waters lived a complicated match (13 points at 5/14 including 2/10 at 3-points, 9 assists but above all 7 turnovers) while he was on a cloud since his festival against the Dominican Republic.
ITALY BOOK THEIR PLACE IN THE QUARTER-FINALS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 25 YEARS ???? ????#FIBAWC x #WinForItalia ????????
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 ???? (@FIBAWC) September 3, 2023
So it’s time to go home for Puerto Rico, which will still have managed an honorable World Cup. For the Italians, this is the first time in a quarter of a century that they have seen the quarter-finals of a World Cup. Their next opponent? The United States or Lithuania.
Forza !
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