Gianmarco Pozzecco lets loose and has some for everyone

Italy-Ukraine 97-89

Two very heavy points for Italy, which on the neutral in Riga beat Ukraine 89-97 continuing in the best possible way on the path to qualification for the 2023 World Cup. At the first official match after the preparation and just a few days before the EuroBasket debut, the Azzurri seize a crucial success by straightening out a contracted first half with a record third quarter (38 points) and overall with a really convincing comeback.
First win in the second phase and confirmation of the first place in Group L for Italy, which in three days hosts Georgia for another crucial match for the rainbow pass.

Best scorer of the evening was the usual Simone Fontecchio with 20 points. Also in double figures were Nicolò Melli (17), Nico Mannion and Stefano Tonut (11) and Danilo Gallinari (10).

Thus CT Gianmarco Pozzecco: “I am proud of my players. We entered the court perhaps too focused and eager to win and Ukraine took advantage of our nervousness to gain confidence. In the second half, however, we regained the joy of playing and produced two high-level quarters. We won a resoundingly important game thanks to all my guys, no one excluded. I am not a coach who defends his choices, I am a coach who defends his players. Right to the end.”