By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
MANILA, Philippines – The second day of games in the Smart Araneta Coliseum brought the first real surprise of the 2023 FIBA World Cup, as the Dominican Republic got the massive upper hand over Italy by beating them 87-82.
Andres Feliz completely switched the game around, completing an amazing three-point performance with 24 points and 7/10 from deep. Karl-Anthony Towns ended with his second straight double-double of the tournament, scoring 24 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
Despite the loss, Giampaolo Ricci provided a brave performance, ending with 12 points and six rebounds. Achille Polonara followed with 10 points and two rebounds. Simone Fontecchio scored 13 with 1/8 from deep.
“I think our players played a good game at the beginning for sure. They came back into the game and it’s natural: they’re a great team. I think we played definitely a great game at the end”, Edoardo Casalone said after the game. “We started the game well, we were controlling it. They were good enough to make great shots. Us as a team, if you don’t shoot too well from three it’s gonna be tough. The key of the game was that. It’s gonna be important”, Gigi Datome added.
The game started with two back-to-back turnovers into fast breaks converted by Achille Polonara, helping Italy go up 12-0 after three minutes on the court. The Dominican Republic reduced the deficit up to two points following a technical foul awarded to Italy’s bench. A nervous Gianmarco Pozzecco got a technical foul near the end of the first quarter, which ended at 19-13 for the Italian national team.
At the beginning of the second quarter, Andres Feliz began to steal the show, being perfect from deep (4/4) in his first eight minutes on the court. Marco Spissu put back Italy up 37-31 with one of his usual threes off the dribble. With 2:20 minutes before halftime, the potential turning point of the game: Gianmarco Pozzecco got ejected after receiving his second technical foul. He took time to talk with the whole Italian national team before exiting the court. Italy still led 39-38 at halftime.
Karl-Anthony Towns gave his team the first lead of the game at 43-41 at the beginning of the second, with the Caribbeans extending it all the way to the biggest lead of the game thus far at 52-44 with 6:32 on the clock in the third quarter. Andres Feliz brought his team up 55-45 later on with a three-point from the corner, and they entered the last ten minutes up 69-56. In the fourth quarter, Italy made a big push cutting the lead down to 85-82 in the last minute, but the Dominican Republic held on for an upset win.
In what looked exactly like a two-side of the same coin, the Dominican Republic had an amazing day from beyond the arc, shooting 41% (16/39). On the other hand, Italy experienced a nightmare from deep, ending the game with 24% (7/29).
PHOTO CREDIT: 2023 FIBA World Cup
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