Belgrade, July 4, 2021 – A resounding feat of Italian national basketball team that beats the Serbia in the final of Belgrade Pre-Olympic Tournament and qualifies at 2021 Olympics of Tokyo. Italy’s Meo Sacchetti scores 102 points and, 17 years after his last appearance at an Olympics, he takes the pass for Japan. Historic evening for Italian basketball: in the final 95-102 there is the signature of Nico Mannion, best blue scorer with 24 points. Also fundamental Achille Polonara (22) e Simone Fontecchio (21). In double figures too Stefano Tonut (15) e Alessandro Pajola (10). Blue shivers for a national team that finally, after the 2004 silver medal collected by Charlie Recalcati’s group, will return to compete in the most beautiful and fascinating competition in international sport. It will be in the Group B. together with Australia, Germany and Nigeria.
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First time on the verge of perfection for the Azzurri who start with very clear ideas in attack: you can only win at the Belgrade Arena with a ballistic show and Italy begins to put it into practice. Mannion, started in quintet instead of Spissu, strength and scores without fear, does the same Tonut and the external advantage rises (9-16). There Serbia she agrees to discover the perimeter on almost all the pick & rolls and is punished by the blue attack, who always knows what to do. The signals, such as the triple of Tonut with a hand in the face, or the dunk on the counterattack of Tessitori, increase the confidence that never goes down, even when Serbia decides to change pace and overtake (36-35), dragged by Andjusic. Zero fear here for the Sacchetti gang. Indeed, cheek and inside with five minutes of offensive show to close the fourth. They score from the outside Fontecchio, Polonara, Tonut, Ricci yet Polonara and finally Pajola, right on the siren for +12, eye rubbing stuff. At half-time there are 57 points on the scoresheet with 9/18 from 3.
In recovery Italy starts from where he had closed the first half, hammering the basket from long distance. Melli e Polonara they go on autopilot from the long run, followed by Tonut and Pajola and Italy flies to +24 (49-73). The Serbian public is speechless in front of the blue show. In the third quarter final Andjiusic, Teodosic e Kalinic shorten the margin of disadvantage, but Italy remains the emotional mistress of the game. The last quarter is heart pounding. Serbia very nervous and immediately in the bonus after less than a minute. Italy gets a little ‘arm’, but they think about it Fontecchio e Polonara to erase all fears. The triple of Polonara four minutes from the end of the sentence (79-96). Serbia does not give up and forces the Azzurri to sweat the victory until the end. Mannion’s bezel laps are ice man’s. They score Petrusev e Andjusic, but for the Serbia now it’s late. Italy flies to the Tokyo Olympics with full merit.
The match report
Serbia: Avramovic 2, Dobric 17, Andjusic 27, Bjelica 5, Marjanovic 7; Kalinic 2, Teodosic 5, Micic 8, Petrusev 22, Milosavljevic no, Davidovac no, Jovic no. All .: Kokoskov.
Italy: Mannion 24, Tonut 15, Fontecchio 21, Melli 5, Polonara 22; Pajola 10, Ricci 3, Tessitori 2, Vitali, Moraschini, Abass ne, Spissu ne. All .: Bags.
Partial: 22-28, 45-57, 63-80.
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