REYKJAVIK (ICELAND) (ITALPRESS) – Willingness and determination count more than adversity. Italy clearly beats Iceland (71-95) on the road putting behind them the difficulties of the eve with a brilliant and convincing choral performance remaining firmly in the lead even after the scare of the 15-0 opponent at the beginning of the third frame. Should the Azzurri beat the Icelanders again in Reggio Emilia on Monday night (8:30 p.m., live DAZN, Sky Sport Uno and Now) they would qualify for EuroBasket 2025 with as many as two games to spare. Framing debut for Grant Basile, top scorer of the day and author of a solid performance made of 19 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals in 20 minutes. Absolute debut also for Riccardo Rossato (7 points) and Federico Poser (4). Double-double for Nicola Akele: 13 points and 10 rebounds. Career high in the national team for Giordano Bortolani (15). First as captain for Marco Spissu with 10 points and 8 assists bringing him to 253 served in the national team in 58 appearances. This is how Coach Casalone, who replaced Gianmarco Pozzecco in the second half, put it: “The ct had a severe headache and was unable to return to the court, but now he is fine. We are very happy with the performance offered by the boys, who showed the right spirit by playing a solid and focused game. We didn’t have fluidity at the beginning of the third quarter but then the team put things back on track. Now head to Reggio Emilia.” Grant Basile and his debut to remember: “It is an honor for me and my family to wear this jersey and tonight was exciting. It was exciting to train with these guys and the coaching staff did a great job. It was a beautiful game and I am happy, I say it again, to play with Italy on my chest. We fought and managed to come out well from a difficult moment.” It was a good first quarter for the Azzurri, who after taking measures against the Icelanders immediately took the lead in operations. Bortolani’s verve and the experience of Spissu and Tessitori pave the way for the energy of the rookies: Riccardo Rossato and Grant Basile make their national team debut one after the other and make a great impact in the match. 4 points the first and 5 the second (with triple) are worth the +15 in the first 10 minutes (12-27). Nicola Akele (4 points and 3 rebounds) and Michele Vitali (2 points and 3 rebounds) also did very well. Definitely positive start also in rebounding: 12-6 Italy. The star of the beginning of the second quarter is Davide Moretti: a triple and the free after the technical to coach Pedersen mean +20 (13-33) but it’s the whole team to turn and it’s really hard for Iceland to find good offensive solutions. The crowd at Reykjavik’s Laugardalsholl tries to cheer the “Strakarnir Okkar,” but they manage to move the score only from the lunette. Triples by Bortolani and Spissu are those of 42-19. The Italian monologue continues until halftime, which sends the teams into the locker room with a round +24 for the guests (25-49). The second half opens with coach Edoardo Casalone filling in for Pozzecco on the bench, who was forced off the court due to a severe headache. On the parquet Iceland, predictably, tries to get back into the game with a 15-0 run that revitalizes the arena and brings the hosts back to -9 (40-49). It’s undoubtedly the most delicate moment of the match but Grant Basile takes care of putting things back on track: two triples and a free that make the Azzurri breathe: with Akele’s free throws they go back to +15 (58-43). At the dawn of the last 10 minutes 65-54 Italy. Past the scare, the team resumes the path of the first half also thanks to a screaming Nicola Akele who will finish with a double-double. Also making his debut, with 4 points, is Federico Poser. Time runs out and the contest goes to ice. Heavy victory on the road to European qualification. The Azzurri will return to Italy tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 23. Reggio is ready to welcome Italbasket, hoping it will be double celebration.- Photo Ipa Agency -(ITALPRESS).
