Gianmarco Pozzecco admits, “I got excited.”

Italy – Ukraine 85-75 at Livorno’s ‘Modigliani Forum’

Respect for the spirit of the game. The desire to get back to winning. The energy of a group that enjoys, and a lot, playing together. This is how Gianmarco Pozzecco’s Italy defeated Ukraine (85-75), effectively eliminating Coach Bagatskis’ team from the upcoming World Cup.

The best scorer was Nico Mannion, at his career high in Azzurro with 28 points: also in double figures Marco Spissu (21) and Amedeo Tessitori (11). Senior debut for Riccardo Visconti, who finished with 7. During the first quarter Paul Biligha suffered a sprained right knee injury. His condition will be reevaluated tomorrow.

This is how Coach Pozzecco said at the end of the game, “For us it was not a friendly game, we said it on the eve of the game and my players on the court proved it by playing a solid and tough game. I am proud of my players, who repaid Livorno’s affection in the best way. We knew how important this challenge was for Ukraine: I am sorry for my friend Sasha Volkov but this is sport. And we wanted to respect the spirit of the game to the fullest. We would obviously have done the same thing with another opponent.”

“Emotions keep you young, coming back here after 30 years excited me. The only jarring note on such a beautiful evening is the injury suffered by Paul Biligha: he is our captain, I really hope it is nothing serious,” he concluded.

Nico Mannion also indulged in the reporters’ microphones: “Really extraordinary atmosphere here in Livorno. I am happy to have played well and to have touched up the career high in the Azzurra jersey, but without this extraordinary group I could not have done anything. Pozzecco is our 13th man on the court, he gives us an incredible charge.”