Success of capital importance for the Azzurri: Fontecchio, Gallinari and Tonut on the shields
L‘Italbasket’ returns to the Olympics after 17 years from the last time and does so with a great comeback victory against Germany, bar 92-82. Tedeschi ahead of 10 points at the end of the first quarter with a shower of triples; that of Maodo Lo keeps our opponents 3 (43-46) ahead at the end of the second. Tonut allows the Azzurri to stay on -4, before a last stellar period: Fontecchio and Melli drag Italy to success.
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Excellent debut in Tokyo 2020 for Italbasket, which had not participated in the Games for 17 years (silver medal in Athens 2004). Meo Sacchetti’s men beat Germany in comeback with a terrific final: 92-82 the final result at the Saitama Super Arena. The Azzurri start off strong: 5-0 with 5 points from an unleashed Simone Fontecchio (in the end, top scorer for Italy with 20 points), well flanked by Nico Mannion. Germany, however, does not stand by and is very precise from the arc: with 6 triples in the first 7 attempts, Rödl’s team finds a partial 12-0 and goes to 23-14, completing the initial overtaking against the team. ‘Italy. Danilo Gallinari, who comes off the bench, scores 5 points and brings the boys from Sacchetti together. The Germans, however, are irrepressible: a triple from Lo at the end is worth 32-22 at the end of the first quarter. At the beginning of the second, the Azzurri fight point by point, then Fontecchio and Tessitori give the partial 10-0: 43-43.
Then, Obst’s triple 11 seconds from the siren is worth 46-43 in favor of Germany at half-time. Very hard start in the third quarter for the Azzurri who suffer a 5-0 which causes the Germans to extend again; Maodo It hurts him and finds the double digit advantage. Melli finds the triple for the new -5 and shortly after steals the ball and on the counterattack he scores for the 56-59. Triple from Fontecchio, then Mannion does not find an easy enough basket for a draw. Draw that does not arrive, but the blue advantage arrives: ball a Gallinari who frees Fontecchio who is looking for a very difficult triple and the Azzurri at +1. After a 7-0 German run, Gallinari himself closes Germany’s escape from beyond the arc. Thus we go to the penultimate siren at 72-68 for our opponents. Last stellar quarter for Italbasket. We are fighting point by point and it is again Tonut who puts Italy ahead. Germany takes the lead when they enter the last 5 minutes of the match.
But it is Fontecchio and Melli who raise the blue average from over the arc and +4 Italy. And then Italy steals the ball and Melli goes to crush: 88-82 arrives with the Germans in a deep crisis one minute from the end. And a basket invented by Gallinari actually closes the game, with Melli shortly after giving a double figure advantage. It ends 92-82 and Italy celebrates. Five in double figures for the Azzurri: Fontecchio with 20, then Gallinari and Tonut 18, Melli 13 and Mannion 10. Next Wednesday, July 28, the National team coached by Meo Bags will challenge Australia.
ITALY TABLE
Often ne, Fontecchio 20, Gallinari 18, Mannion 10, Melli 13, Moraschini 8, Pajola 2, Polonara, Ricci ne, Tessitori, Tonut 18, Vitali 3. All. Bags.
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