Gianmarco Pozzecco re-embraces the Azzurri.
The words of Gianmarco Pozzecco
The Azzurro returns. After the five-day Italian Cup in Turin, Gianmarco Pozzecco’s national team gathered this afternoon. It starts from the Marche region, and more precisely from Pesaro, the road that will have to bring Italy to the qualification for EuroBasket 2025, the European Championship that will be played next year among Cyprus, Latvia, Poland and Finland.
The journey will begin on Thursday, Feb. 22 at the Vitrifrigo Arena in Pesaro (8:30 p.m., live DAZN, Sky Sport and Now) against Turkey coached by coach Ergin Ataman, a historically tough lineup that forced the Azzurri into an overtime last summer in the friendly in Trento albeit for an incredible basket by Kabaca (Italy won 90-89). This time the points at stake count for the standings and to move with enthusiasm to Hungary, where Italy will challenge the hosts in Szombathely on Sunday (6 p.m., live DAZN, Sky Sport and Now). Also part of Group B is Iceland, which will receive Hungary at home on Thursday and then visit Turkey on Sunday. The top three finishers in the group qualify for the European Championships.
Meanwhile in Pesaro, CT Pozzecco today directed the first practice of the week at the Vitrifrigo Arena. At disposal 15 athletes: Giordano Bortolani, Guglielmo Caruso, Diego Flaccadori, Niccolò Mannion, Nicolò Melli, Alessandro Pajola, John Petrucelli, Achille Polonara, Gabriele Procida, Giampaolo Ricci, Luca Severini, Matteo Spagnolo, Marco Spissu, Amedeo Tessitori, Stefano Tonut. The coaching staff will have to select 12 of them for the match against Turkey and can then change the personnel for the next game against Hungary.
“We are coming back to regroup after the summer and by now we were no longer used to being away so much since there was no November window. Starting a new path on the right foot è is essential and in this sense the choice to return to Pesaro for us è was a winner. Turkey, you know, è tough and well-coached opponent and we will need all the warmth of the Marche public to win a difficult and edgy game. On our part we will put on the field the usual enthusiasm and the right concentration. We look forward to getting back on the court", said the Poz.
