Italbasket crushed by Lithuania, goodbye Olympics

Olympics, Italbasket out

No Paris 2024 Olympics for Italbasket, which failed its last chance to snatch a ticket to the Games. The Azzurri were defeated 64-88 in the semifinals of the pre-Olympic tournament in Puerto Rico by Lithuania, which will play for a pass on Sunday in the final that puts up a spot in the U.S. group.

Danilo Gallinari, after dominating against Bahrain and losing to the hosts, came into this game knowing they had to win at all costs to stay in the race but from the start they were put under by Sabonis’ team.

In the resumption the situation if possible è worsened and the boys of coach Gianmarco Pozzecco remained steadily with a double-digit disadvantage, too wide to hope for a comeback that was not even touched in the final.

In the end Gallinari’s 15 points and Melli’s 10 will remain good only for statistics: definitely more important and heavy the 23 of a wild Grigonis, already in double digits at the long interval to the sound of triples that sent the Azzurri to the floor.