The Azzurri di Pozzecco for the debut forgive 75-66 under the blows of the NBA star. Melli and Niang are saved, but with Georgia you have to turn on
Euro exord. But not a dream. Italy loses 75-66 against Greece and begins its continental journey uphill. They had angry faces, the Azzurri of the Poz. They dreamed of a beautiful and winning start to dedicate to Achille Polonara. In two days Georgia (who beat Spain) will be more than a thermometer and the Azzurri will already have to shake their European. Meanwhile, the debut in Cyprus opens questions and chasms. Good things have been there, and how. Melli indomitable (15 points), Niang energetic (11), useful curls. The rebounds and assists. And the points from the bench. But none of these served to stop Giannis Antetokounmpo. A cyclone, a volcano, torment under the planks for the blues. And driver, of course. “The Greek Freak” scores 31. His performance does not say everything about Italy and his pains. The NO evening of Fontecchio (1/11, 4 points in all) engraved. Indeed, he marked the match. As well as the absence of Triple (7/27) and an intensity to be reviewed. The start of Quarto (especially the first and third) created the tracks on which Greece then managed its game. Courage, Italy: that was not lacking. So much to get back on track at 49 ”from the end, with Spanish. Too late, however.
Giannis raises the laps
–
Melli is captain courage: the first (7) points are all his. But it was known that Greece had a bite and heart. And one more giannis. So much so that the first quarter passes almost everything from his big hands like badils: immediately 8 points, energy, show. What a player. The Azzurri then pulled badly. And this is a nice problem on which Pozzecco will perhaps have to work again. In short, the start is hard for Italy. Spanish loses balls and Fontecchio cannot light up. Pajola’s triple from the corner deludes on 10-10, but Giannis and his companions immediately raise the laps. Crushed, defensive intensity and a surgical papanikolaou from the arch dig the first, small furrow (19-12). There is also room for Gallinari. But the partial final by Toliopoulos weighs and not a little: +10 Greeks, 22-12. The difficulties seen in the friendly against Greece are still there, shadows to drive away. The offensive rebounds work. And Niang. Its athleticism gives guarantees and allows Italy to gnaw points even when the defense is not at the top. Because when the Enigma Antetokounmpo goes out (almost never, to tell the truth) and the circulation works, the Poz boys manage to manage the situation. Greece cannot give the definitive tear, indeed throws away two consecutive balls, and Italy patiently refers below. With the most present rooster and everyone’s contribution, the blues close the first half with renewed energy at -4 (32-36).
Niang tries
–
The start of the race is bad, but that of the third period also has its flaws. Fontecchio is bewitched, he just can’t score. And Greece, even when it has some decline, manages to assert its elbows in the area. But the inertia remains Hellenic: Kostas and Giannis continue to be heard in rebound and lunette, bringing Greece back on +7. A technician and some mistakes weigh on blue morality, while Thansis Antetokounmpo captures two consecutive offensive rebounds and signs the new +9. Italy remains in trouble, hunting for a blow that can reverse the course. Niang shakes the team with a spectacular crushed, but is not enough: Dorsey hits, the Greek defense continues to bite and Italy wastes in attack. In the final of the Ricci period he snatches a few points from the bezel, but the gap remains broad. Greece ahead 56-45. In the fourth the margin rises until +14, and Italy seems to jam. With Giannis placed on the bench, the blues live with shocks. A 6-2 blue break, for example. But they are flashes. Finally Fontecchio finds one, and three. And Spanish at 49 “returns to -5 (71-66). But there is no more time.
© RESERVED REPRODUCTION