World Cup: Italy beats Puerto Rico and flies into quarterfinals

World Cup: Italy beats Puerto Rico and flies into quarterfinals

Italy returns to the quarterfinals of a world championship after 25 years: in Manila, Gianmarco Pozzecco’s Azzurri beat Puerto Rico 73-57.

As usual è Italy got off to a rocket start: after an initial 0-4, it threaded a partial that è almost a tennis score, 15-0, then, after a Puerto Rican rapprochement, another 7-0 partial in our favor made us close the first quarter ahead 25-15.

Second quarter with less reversals but our opponents get closer from 36-27 to 39-36 with which we go to the long interval. Instead, the seesaw resumes in the third quarter: after a 7-0 run that sends Puerto Rico ahead by 2, there’s an 8-0 run for the Azzurri and we get to the last ten minutes on 51-47.

Another 8-0 partial for the Poz gang at the’beginning of the last period and shortly after there'è the momentary maximum lead on +13. Our opponents are always kept at a safe distance and in the final another 8-0 partial that seals the +16 and the final triumph of Italy.

For the Azzurri 15 points by Stefano Tonut and Giampaolo Ricci, 12 for Simone Fontecchio, including the final triple, to which he adds 12 rebounds as Nicolò Melli who catches as many as 8 in attack, 11 points for captain Gigi Datome, at his 200ª presence in the Azzurri. For Puerto Rico 13 points by Tremont Waters and 11 by Jordan Howard.