By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
MANILA, Philippines – On the second day of Group A games played in the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Italy found an unexpected loss against the Dominican Republic, which overcame the favorite 87-82. The Italian team now needs a win against the Philippines to officially advance.
The day after the defeat, the Italian basketball federation president commented on the result against Karl-Anthony Towns and teammates. “I’ve spoken with the whole coaching staff: yesterday’s episodes must not happen anymore, I don’t want to see them. We didn’t lose due to refereeing mistakes: that’s a completely wrong mentality. The Dominican Republic deserved to win, we didn’t lose because of that: You always have to accept the result of the court. The refereeing mistakes are there and will always be there, and we didn’t lose because of that. Neither it’s FIBA’s fault. I’ve told the head coach and the whole coaching staff: we have a reputation to defend. Our team is full of smart people, you saw how they reacted”, he opened to the media during the team’s morning practice.
During the game against the Caribbean team, Italy got awarded four technical fouls, including the two that led to Gianmarco Pozzecco’s ejection with 2:20 minutes left in the second quarter. Petrucci had some words on that as well. “What happened yesterday is way different from what occurred at EuroBasket 2022. Gianmarco Pozzecco is an extraordinary person from every point of view. It’s the first one to feel sorry, he realizes it. The fact I’ve been exalting him until today is a demonstration of the esteem and affection I have for him”, he said.
“Everybody esteem us, or at least I hope so. But when you go over, you go over. He’s conscious of what he did, he realizes because he’s a smart man. His good attitude brought him to have these reactions. I don’t wanna say Gianmarco is the only one responsible, but this kind of thing can’t happen”, Petrucci followed, continuing on Pozzecco.
Finally, Petrucci said that the Italian national team wouldn’t surrender after this loss. “This is a World Cup that can get you to the Olympic Games, not only to the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. We have all the pieces to advance, let’s not make it a drama. We lost a game, and it’s okay: the Dominican Republic even beat Argentina. The attitude was wrong, and it couldn’t be accepted. No way“, he added once more.
PHOTO CREDIT: Ciamillo-Castoria
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