Gianmarco Pozzecco ejected, Italy loses to Dominican Republic
Gianmarco Pozzecco ejected, Italy loses to Dominican Republic
In the second game of the World Cup, Gianmarco Pozzecco's Italy was beaten 87-82 in Manila by the Dominican Republic collapsing after the expulsion during the second quarter of its coach, nice but vain comeback attempt in the final.
Extraordinary start of the’Italy that goes on 12-0, but then the game immediately turns sour and the Azzurri get caught up in it: first a technical to our bench, then one to Pozzecco and the first quarter ends on 19-13 for us.
Second quarter with a technical to Vargas and one to Melli, then there’è a contact between Towns and Ricci that is whistled against us after the Dominican from the NBA had been ruled to break through at the beginning. Pozzecco protests, second technical and ejection of our ct. The Dominicans even go ahead 38-37 then a basket by Fontecchio closes the first half on 39-38 in our favor.
The third quarter è a disaster for the Azzurri who, without their coach, plummet to -14 (45-59 and 48-62) and reach the last ten minutes on 69-56. The Dominicans get to +17, 77-60, and the final knockout blow seemed to come with less than three minutes to go with a Polonara unsportsmanlike conduct on Towns, who made 1 of 2 at the lunette and then scored the 83-67 triple.
But here, incredibly, Italy dragged by Spissu rekindled and came back up to’82-85, but two free throws by Quinones, of which the second was made to repeat for invasion, put an end to the match. Spissu’s 17 points, for the Dominicans instead 24 apiece by Andres Feliz (7 of 10 from three) and Towns, the Minnesota Timberwolves center also capturing 11 rebounds. On Tuesday, the Azzurri will take on the hosts Philippines.
