Italy, Pozzecco and Datome: “We can do something great”
Pozzecco’s Azzurri make their debut Friday against Estonia at European basketball championships
The Sky Sport studios in Milan held the Media Day of the national team, which will be engaged in FIBA EuroBasket 2022 from Friday in Milan. Coach Pozzecco thus. “I have coached several clubs but the sounding board and the responsibilities that accompany my role in the National Team are definitely higher. I knew more or less all these guys but I learned to appreciate them day by day, on and off the parquet. For me it was not a surprise, because I have great esteem for Italian players. We have built a real group, it means we have clear hierarchies and goals. We are ready.”
For captain Datome what starts in Milan on September 2 will be his sixth European Championship. “This team has limitations but is aware of them and knows how to deal with them. Nine of my teammates last year qualified for the Olympics proving that you can dream and achieve great things. We can do something good and great.”
The Azzurri will make their EuroBasket 2022 debut on Friday, September 2 against Estonia. Also in Italy’s group are Greece (Sept. 3), Ukraine (Sept. 5), Croatia (Sept. 6) and Great Britain (Sept. 8).
All of Italy’s matches will be played at 9 p.m. at the Milan Forum live on Sky Sports, Now Tv and ELEVEN.
From Sept. 1 to Sept. 8, the Fan Zone organized by Master Group Sport, FIP’s commercial advisor, will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a full lineup of side events in which tournaments, freestylers, sponsor activations, the FIP eBasket Tour Finals and more will take center stage from time to time.
Doing the honors will be Gianluca Gazzoli, radio speaker, TV presenter and Ambassador of the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Italian Group. The inauguration will take place on September 1 at 4 p.m., with the full National Team.
The Azzurri
#0 Marco Spissu (1995, 184, P, Umana Reyer Venezia)
#1 Niccolo Mannion (2001, 190, P, Segafredo Virtus Bologna)
#6 Paul Biligha (1990, 200, C, EA7 Emporio Armani Milano)
#7 Stefano Tonut (1993, 194, G, EA7 Emporio Armani Milano)
#9 Nicolò Melli (1991, 206, A, EA7 Emporio Armani Milano)
#13 Simone Fontecchio (1995, 203, A, Utah Jazz – NBA)
#16 Amedeo Tessitori (1994, 204, C, Umana Reyer Venezia)
#17 Giampaolo Ricci (1991, 202, A, EA7 Emporio Armani Milano)
#25 Tommaso Baldasso (1998, 192, P, EA7 Emporio Armani Milano)
#33 Achille Polonara (1991, 205, A, Anadolu Efes Istanbul – Turkey)
#54 Alessandro Pajola (1999, 194, P, Segafredo Virtus Bologna)
#70 Luigi Datome (1987, 203, A, EA7 Emporio Armani Milano)
