By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
MANILA, Philippines – Losing against the United States 100-63 in the 2023 FIBA World Cup Quarter-Finals, Gigi Datome played one of his last games in his career with the Italian national team, with two games left in his tank.
Stopping by in the mixed zone, the Italian legend spoke about the recent defeat. “Their athletic level, of bodies and physicality is on another level compared to us. They scored a lot, while we never found the basket. And the gap increased in the third quarter. We weren’t at a enough level to compete. It hurts when you lose by this many points, but they really played at a different level”, he first said.
Team USA seemed different also on the defensive end. “When they start switching on anybody, you don’t see light at the end of the tunnel. The athleticism they have, the shots and passes they deflected. We had a game plan, we believed in it. But when the difference on the court is that high, you just have to give them the credit”, the 35-year-old added.
“The positive note will still be there because I’m really happy to have been part of this group”, he said when asked how important it will be to end his adventure on a positive note with the last two games. “The consideration I have of my teammates and of this group won’t change after this game or the next ones. I’m sad we didn’t get enough luck after passing the Group Phase at the 1st position we still had to go against the USA”, the small forward added.
“We couldn’t do anything about it, we still had a wonderful World Cup. Let’s try to close it well because we deserve it after the work we’ve been putting in this summer. We deserve to finish at the level that suits us”, he also said about the next two games before taking some time to comment on Matteo Spagnolo, Gabriele Procida, and Momo Diouf, who all spent some minutes tonight.
“I think it was a good moment for them. I never played against the United States before, so it must have been good for them. Little by little they will get their space, without any kind of rush. It’s important for this group they will get some minutes as time passes”, Gigi Datome concluded on three of the members of the future Italian national team.
PHOTO CREDIT: 2023 FIBA World Cup
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