Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

HOOPS

Mission impossible?

SOCIAL MEDIA

We are not taking any team for granted

SOCIAL MEDIA

ROME, Italy — Before heading to Naples last week, I took a tram bound for the Federazione Italiana Pallacanesto (Italian Basketball Federation) on the outskirts of this spellbinding city to check on the status of the Italian national team revving up for the 2023 World Cup in Manila.

During that time, the Italian championship was still being played starring Virtus Bologna and Olimpia Milano, team that had national team mainstays on their respective rosters.

Two nights later, while I was in Napoli, Olimpia Milano beat Virtus Bologna, 67-55, in Game 7 to win the crown.

Francesco D’Aniello, the publicity chief of the Italian squad, said about 30 national team candidates will show up for training camp in the Alps beginning 24 July and will hold camp until 2 August.

By the time the Italians host a pocket tournament in Trento, those flying to to the Philippines for the 25 August to 10 September cagefest would already be named.

D’Aniello, who will join them, insists they are not taking the host for granted.

 

Italy and the Philippines are grouped with the Dominican Republic and Angola and the Azzurri are building up for the World Cup by raking on a bevy of teams action in Manila.

 

“We are not taking any team for granted,” he said when asked about the opposition in Manila.

He made special mention of Gilas Pilipinas’ tremendous homecourt edge, something D’Aniello feels could potentially be a gamechanger.

Italy and the Philippines are grouped with the Dominican Republic and Angola and the Azzurri are building up for the World Cup by raking on a bevy of teams action in Manila.

In contrast, host Philippines has opted to kind of keep its camp away from prying eyes by going to Northern Europe and play Estonia and Finland and possibly Lithuania.

Hopes are high that Italy, Olympic silver medalists in 1980 and 2004, would progress deep into the Manila tournament but its medal hopes suffered a big blow when Paolo Banchero declared that he would suit up for the United States instead of Italy.

Still, Italy has several players with NBA experience and this alone spells trouble for the Chot Reyes-mentored team.

But then again, D’Aniello remains deeply concerned about the kind of crowd and that will turn out on gameday.

Perhaps, D’Aniello was just being diplomatic in his assessment of the Philippines, adding that the presence of Jordan Clarkson and the stratospheric Kai Sotto could mess things up.

But with the Philippines struggling with injuries, the Italians might not even need Banchero and a handful of other guys to get the job done.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

SPORTS

SOCIAL MEDIAManny Pacquiao knows his time is up. This was the keen observation made by a longtime member of his training team who spent...

ESPORTS

SOCIAL MEDIAThe dynamic duo of Johnmar “OhMyV33nus” Villaluna and Danerie James “Wise” del Rosario is back with a bang after leading Blacklist International to...

SPORTS

SOCIAL MEDIAThe University Athletic Association of the Philippines will have a full calendar of sports events for Season 85 starting 1 October. UAAP President...

ESPORTS

SOCIAL MEDIAECHO has revealed its roster for the upcoming M4 Mobile Legends World Championship to be held 1-15 January 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The...

SPORTS

SOCIAL MEDIAIt’s going to be business as usual as the Philippine Basketball Association will not stop its on-court activities when it gives way for...

SPORTS

SOCIAL MEDIAIt doesn’t look as if newly-crowned Melvin Jerusalem will get the luxury of defending his minimumweight crown against a handpicked rival after the...

SPORTS

Mitchell, meanwhile, is a six-foot shooting guard frowm Hartford University.

SPORTS

SOCIAL MEDIALegendary boxing referee Carlos ‘Sonny’ Padilla was recently inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. Famous for serving as the third man...

Copyright © DAILY TRIBUNE