Italbasket, luxury friendlies confirmed against Greece and Serbia

Italbasket against Greece and Serbia in early August

One year on from their summer 2022 European Championship crossovers, Italy, Greece and Serbia will meet again from August 8-10, 2023 at the Aegean Acropolis Tournament, one of the world’s most prestigious friendly events, useful to prepare for the World Cup to be played in Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia just under three weeks later. This was confirmed by the Federbasket through its official channels.

At the OAKA in Athens, coach Gianmarco Pozzecco’s Italy will face the Greeks in their opening game on Tuesday, Aug. 8, and the Serbs on the second day, Wednesday, Aug. 9. Greece and Serbia will close the tournament, playing each other, on Thursday 10.

Born in 1986 and now in its 32nd edition (not played every year), the Acropolis Tournament has seen Italy prevail on three occasions: 1997, 2001 and 2011. The Azzurri last participated in 2019, in preparation for the Chinese World Cup. Pozzecco returns to Acropolis for the first time as head coach, having played it as a player on three occasions (1999, 2004 and 2005).

Those in Athens will not be the Azzurri’s only friendlies ahead of the 2023 World Cup (Aug. 25-Sept. 10): after the April 29 draw in Manila, the entire approach to the rainbow event will be defined.