Trentino Basket Cup, clear victory for Italy over Iceland in semifinals

Wide victory with merit for Italy in its Trentino Basket Cup debut against Iceland in a test match ahead of Eurobasket. It ended 87-61 for the Azzurri, in double figures Niang (17), Fontecchio (14), Procida (12) and Diouf (10). In the other semifinal, Senegal got the better of Poland 75-69 and will challenge coach Gianmarco Pozzecco’s boys in the final tomorrow.

The scoreboard
Italy-Iceland 87-61 (26-16, 15-6, 30-17, 16-22)
Italy: Spissu (0/1 from three), Tonut 4 (1/2, 0/1), Fontecchio* 14 (6/10, 0/6), Ricci 6 (2/3 from three), Spagnolo* 1 (0/2), Procida 12 (3/3, 1/6), Niang 17 (8/10, 0/1), Bortolani 3 (1/2 from three), Caruso 4 (2/2), Diouf* 10 (4/5), Rossato 7 (2/4, 1/2), Severini (0/1 from three), Akele* 4 (0/1, 1/1), Pajola* 5 (0/1, 1/3). All. Pozzecco.
Iceland: Steinarsson* 2 (1/2), Henningsoon ne, Gudmundsson 3 (0/2, 0/2), Brodnik (0/1 from three), Fridriksson* 10 (1/6, 1/2), Atlason 10 (1/1, 2/2), Jonsson ne, Palsson K. 10 (0/1, 2/5), Hermannsson* 12 (3/5, 2/6), Palsson H.* 2 (1/3, 0/2), Gunnarsson 2 (1/1, 0/1), Hlinason* 8 (4/7), Thrastarson 2 (1/2), Bjornosson ne. All. Pedersen
Shooting from two Ita 26/40, Isl 13/30; Shooting from three 7/27 Ita, Isl 7/21; Free throws Ita 14/21, Isl 14/24. Rebounds Ita 40, Isl 33; Recovered balls Ita, 14 (Pajola 3), Isl 3; Assists Ita 19 (Pajola 5), Isl 17.
Fouls exited 5 fouls: None
Referees: Saverio Lanzarini, Marco Attard, Gian Lorenzo Miniati
Spectators: 3,424

CT Gianmarco Pozzecco: “We have to work a lot, the veterans are giving a hand to the younger ones and an important chemistry is being built. We need time and I hope we can make everything work for the best. The only problem I will have is having so many strong players in the same role: we have tried different quintets and we have to find the right hierarchies, to go in a direction that can be rewarding with serenity. Tomorrow we will play Senegal, a completely different physical team than Iceland. We have one of our brothers who is in the hospital, they are lucky guys who have the chance to do a beautiful thing while having fun. There is an important professionalism but the playful aspect should not be lost and if you can have fun you have already won.”

Niang’s comment: “Coach Pozzecco asked us to have fun, to play our game. This has been my audience and so I am even happier with how it went tonight. I feel I am more confident, it has been a busy summer for me but the best is yet to come. We are on the right track, helping each other on defense and passing the ball.”