The national basketball team flies to the Tokyo Olympics and returns to the Games after 17 years of absence. Italy beats Serbia 102-95 in Belgrade in the final of the pre-Olympic tournament and takes the pass for the Games. The Azzurri of coach Sacchetti, even 24 points ahead during the third period, resist the return of the hosts and lead the company, embellished by the excellent 3-point 14/34 (41%). Extraordinary performance in particular by Nico Mannion (24 points), Achille Polonara (22) and Simone Fontecchio (21).
In Tokyo, where the five-circle tournament is scheduled from 25 July to 7 August, Italy will play in the group with Australia, Nigeria and Germany, which won the Pre-Olympic in Split.
For Italy this is the 12th participation in the Olympic Games: 1936 (7th place), 1948 (17th place), 1960 (4th place), 1964 (5th place), 1968 (8th place), 1972 ( 4th place), 1976 (5th place), 1980 (Silver), 1984 (5th place), 2000 (5th place), 2004 (Silver).
“An extraordinary match, which will remain in history because winning at Serbia is always a challenge, regardless of the absences of the two teams. A fantastic victory, thanks to Meo Sacchetti and his staff. I thank the whole world of basketball that is there. always been close. Italian basketball deserved such great joy “, says Federal President Gianni Petrucci.
“Fantastic guys, good players and excellent players. With a team like this the coach becomes better”, the words of Sacchetti.
“We are very happy because we have done a feat after 17 years. We played a great team match, all of us. We had a great desire to win. We enjoy this evening and from tomorrow we are already thinking about Tokyo”, says Polonara.
Captain Nic Melli describes “an incredible joy, too big. I told Nico (Mannion) that he doesn’t know what we did. Going to the Olympics doesn’t always happen. We told ourselves before the game, our career could change with this match, and it has changed. Because going to the Olympics is something unique. Now we enjoy it, it’s too good. I’m happy for my teammates, everyone was very good at giving their brick. “
The Azzurri will return to Italy as early as tomorrow morning and after a few days they will meet again to prepare for the Olympic match. The meeting program will be announced in the coming days.