Italy awaits Serbia: Pozzecco is demanding of his own
Pozzecco’s words on the eve of Italy-Serbia
Italy once again faces Serbia. A challenge that has reached its 17th chapter since 2008. A challenge that before the Pre Olympic in Belgrade in 2021 had a bitter taste for the Azzurri (2 wins and 10 losses) and that after the magical night in Nikolic Hall has taken on decidedly more heated tones. Since there, in fact, Italy è has been able to beat Serbia 3 out of 4 times in the last three years. The last one at the Athens Acropolis Tournament exactly three weeks ago (89-88).
"Italy-Serbia is becoming a classic by now – admitted coach Gianmarco Pozzecco -. As always we will have to play a perfect game because this time too we will face a very strong team, with many weapons at our disposal, widespread talent and size. I am very sorry not to see Borisa Simanic on the court, to whom I send a big hug and good luck. As for us, we will play our usual basketball, the one that has distinguished us so far. I saw the guys very focused and determined to take one more step forward in this World Cup. In these two days we have rested, recharged our batteries, trained well and prepared for the game. We are ready".
What will be consumà tomorrow in Manila in the Philippines, will be a decisive clash again. Not exactly an in/out becauseé other results and basket difference could influence it, but certainly a decisive crossroads for the passage to the quarterfinals. Especially for our national team, which enters the second phase having to chase Dominican Republic and precisely Serbia.
Once again the Azzurri will go as underdogs in the presence of a team that dominated Group B with three clear victories over China (105-63), Puerto Rico (94-77) and South Sudan (115-83). Three games in which the talent of Bogdan Bogdanovic, teammate of Gigi Datome at Fenerbahce (Euroleague win in 2017), repeat national titles, Silver at the Rio 2016 Games and Silver at the World Championship in Spain in 2014, shone. For him three games in double figures in the first phase (14+17+23). A hot hand armed by play Nikola Jovic, 25 points against South Sudan and above all 8.3 assists on average, second only to Puerto Rican Tremont Waters (8.7) in the whole world. Under the boards Nikola Milutinov, third in the entire tournament in rebounding (10.3 average). Overall, Serbia è the third team in points scored at the World Cup: 104 on average: better only Canada and the United States.
The’s only precedent in a World Cup, dates back to the 2019 Chinese rainbow review, when CT Sacchetti’s team lost 92-77 in the first round.
The’other match of the first day of Group I sees the derby between Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, with the ball at 2 p.m. Italian time.
The Dominican Republic è full points, while the boricuas arrive at the second phase with two wins (China and South Sudan) and one loss (Serbia).
The two Caribbean national teams arrive at the challenge with a fresh precedent behind them – August 4 for both was the first World Cup preparation match -, in which Puerto Rico won 93-86.
