It ends 87-80, the blue captain dominates the first part of the match, while in the second half he can’t find the way to the basket. Coach Pozzecco: “Today people appreciated the spirit, the national team must always play like this”
– ROME
The journey towards Euro 2025 (to be held in Poland, Finland, Cyprus and Latvia) begins in the best possible way for Italbasket: in Pesaro Turkey is beaten 87-80 in a very positive debut match. And now the trip to Hungary on Sunday.
triple
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At the start, Ataman’s Turks rely on Biberovic’s triples (at 7-15 there are already three on the scoresheet), but the Azzurri respond with Ricci, Spissu and above all Melli, dominating every corner of the parquet. We run a lot, let’s say the defenses don’t struggle too much. After 24 all in the first quarter, Italy no longer held the lead at 27-26 at the start of the second. At the long interval, the 50 Italian points stand out (17 from Melli, 7 for Mannion and Polonara) against the 39 of Ataman’s team (Biberovic 18).
recovery
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In the second half the Italian double-digit lead is a constant, but Osmani -1’53” from the end of the third quarter brings the score -8 (64-56) with Pozzecco (who is whistled a moment before by the usual technical for protests) who immediately stops the game. Upon returning to the field, Polonara scores two points with an immediate foul but misses the add-on. Mannion sprints, Petrucelli defends, the half ends at 68-56 with Biberovic reaching 22. At the start of the last quarter Ataman also gets the whistle blown by the technician, Ricci from 3 or 2 is always very precise, Pajola presses like a madman on the little Turks and scores as well, Pozzecco thanks him by making a heartfelt gesture while the scoreboard shows 77- in the 34th minute 62, +15. But the Turks are not there, they make it 8-0 at 77-70 with 4′ left. Spissu scores on an assist from Melli (79-70), Mahmutoglu hits the net from 3 (79-73 ), the Azzurri, however, do not let themselves be anxious and with the usual Spissu (3) they put the score back at a safe distance (82-73). A technical to Mahmutoglu ends any Turkish ambition: it ends 87-80. The only discordant note: the 4/10 in the free throws for Melli and his teammates, with 10 of them scoring. “These are guys who care about the blue shirt, today people appreciated the spirit, the national team must always play like this”, the comment of the coach Pozzecco.
Italy: Melli 17, Spissu 12, Tonut 12
Türkiye: Biberovic 27, Mahmutoglu 14, Sipahi 11
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