By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
Israel was determined to show character on the road in Italy and did just that. In a very close game Omri Casspi cut the lead of Italy to one point with a three (64-63) with just 11 second left, but Marco Belinelli with two free throws gave a crucial edge to his team (66-63). Caspi then had one of two free throws made and Belinelli sealed the final score (67-64) with Yogev Ohayon missing the final desperation shot of the game.
In the first game of the day at Trentino, Poland with Maciej Lampe having 11 points and 7 rebound and captain Lukasz Koszarek dishing 13 assists beat Georgia 87-75. However the result that turned heads around Europe was the easy 72-52 win of Latvia against Russia, which was playing without Alexey Shved. It was the first preparation game of Russia with new coach Vasily Karasev in its bench.
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