Heading into Italy-Serbia, Gianmarco Pozzecco relies on his team’s heart

“I’m not worried, because with the heart of these kids you can go far.”

Speaking at a press conference after the clear as useless win against Great Britain – the Azzurri were already certain that they could not improve their fourth place in the round – Gianmarco Pozzecco immediately appeared highly charged ahead of the round of 16, which will see the Italian roster engaged against Serbia in Berlin on Sunday, September 11.

“We had great respect for Great Britain, which in the past few days had always played good basketball in the first two quarters, then in the second half we loosened up and closed it out,” the coach began in the press conference. “Today it was good to see the Rooster again, even though we relived the disappointment of not having him here with us. I’m proud of my guys and the basketball they are playing, I have a lot of confidence in their qualities and I say that I deeply respect Serbia’s strength and tradition, but I’m not worried, because with the heart of these guys you can go far. Again a special applause to my players, who beyond the results have managed to make thousands of spectators here at the Forum excited.”

Giampaolo Ricci, wing of Olimpia Milano, also had his say on the first group stage: “In these days maybe we could have done even something more, but we have to take the positive things of this week and today’s game and look ahead to the second phase.”