By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
MANILA, Philippines – In front of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Global Ambassador Dirk Nowitzki and 21.214 fans in the emphatic scenario of the Philippine Arena, the Italian national team got its first victory of the competition against Angola, winning 81-67.
Simone Fontecchio was Italy’s top scorer with 19 points, followed by Tonut’s 18. “I was completely under stress, I have to apologize to my players. I have trust in my players. Tonight was a tough night for them but in two days will come back stronger. Both teams struggled from deep, we have great shooters. I was tense and nervous, I transmitted some of it to my guys. Normal that we could have ended up playing like this”, Gianmarco Pozzecco said about the game in the press conference.
On Angola’s side, Childe Dundao had a breakout game in his debut in World Cup outings, scoring 19 points with 4/8 from downtown. Atlanta Hawks‘ center Bruno Fernando was also crucial to keep his team afloat with 13 points and 5 rebounds. “This is something we can’t change”, coach Carlos Canals said to the media in the post-game press conference about the heavy defeat Angola suffered four years ago against Italy. “Eight or nine players will be here for a lot of years and improve. In 8 years, maybe Angola one day can beat Italy”, he continued.
Starting the game slowly, Gianmarco Pozzecco’s national team found a 14-0 run in the first quarter to come back into action. However, the African team stayed focused all the way until the end, tying the game at 57-57 with 00:39 seconds left in the third quarter.
Italy struggled beyond the arc (5/31), which has always been its main strength. However, Angola had problems from three as well (4/29), making it a game decided by details and points scored on the glass.
Following Italy’s victory, later on in the Philippine Arena, the other clash in Group A between host the Philippines and the Dominican Republic is set to take place at 14:00 CET (20:00 local time).
Simone Fontecchio 𝙩𝙪𝙩𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙤 😤#FIBAWC x #WinForItalia 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/fpUsvH8HO0
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) August 25, 2023
PHOTO CREDIT: 2023 FIBA World Cup
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