Eurobasket 2022, Italy gets off on the right foot: Estonia tarred

Italy’s debut at FIBA EuroBasket 2022 is a winner

In front of the 11,000 that packed the stands at the Milano Forum, the team coached by Gianmarco Pozzecco overcame Estonia 83-62, taking the lead in the second quarter and then administering the advantage without major problems.

Tomorrow the Azzurri return to the court at 9 p.m. to face Greece (live on ELEVEN, Sky Sport Arena and Now), which today overcame Croatia (89-85) with 27 points from Giannis Antetokounmpo. In the other challenge in Group C, Ukraine beat Great Britain 90-61.

The top scorer in the opener was Simone Fontecchio with 19 points. Also in double figures were Nic Melli (17), Nico Mannion (12), Achille Polonara (12, plus 11 rebounds) and Gigi Datome (11).

Spissu, Tonut, Polonara, Fontecchio, Melli is the quintet chosen by coach Pozzecco and the first quarter is one of study, with the two teams exchanging high-percentage shots and related triples (Polonara here, Drell there): at the end of the first quarter Italy is +3 (21-18) and at the opening of the second half comes the first shock of the Azzurri with Datome’s triple to close a 14-2 inspired by Polonara, Fontecchio and Mannion for +15 (35-20).

Estonia’s retort was not long in coming and after 16 minutes the lead thinned to 6 lengths: the offense seems to be jammed and then Simone Fontecchio takes care of it with three triples in sequence (17 in the first half alone), then Ricci’s tap-in is worth the new maximum lead at +17 (50-33). By an excellent Polonara the free throws of the +19 at the long halftime.

Melli’s flare-up allows the Azzurri to stay around +20 until midway through the third quarter (63-42), Estonia tries to come back pushed by its many fans who came to Milan and goes back to -15 after 33 minutes, but Mannion’s rebound opens the new partial that paves the way to the first win of the European Championship, back in Italy after a 31-year wait.

It ends 83-62, to the applause of the Forum. Tomorrow it’s Greece.