Pozzecco's blues remain at the top of the group and are approaching qualification for the World Cup. The away win, in Riga in Latvia, against Ukraine for 97-89 confirms the primacy in group L. And on Sunday in Brescia Italbasket will face Georgia.
The match against the Ukrainians is not easy: balanced start (19-19) with Melli and Polonara in evidence, then in the second quarter the hosts (hosted in Latvia for the well-known war events) push on the accelerator with the play Sanon (who gets hurt in the middle of the race) and take advantage of the size of the longs to go to the break ahead: 45-34 for Ukraine.
Upon returning to the field, the starting quintet with Spissu triggering teammates Fontecchio, Tonut and Melli accelerates. It is precisely the triple of the Sassari player who gives the draw and Gallinari scores on the siren for +5.
In the last fraction Mannion is good at serving his teammates and finds two certainties in Ricci and Fontecchio. Italy also reaches +10 and even with some anxiety controls the game.
For the Olbiese Datome 3 points in 12 minutes on the field.
Ukraine: Bliznyuk 9, Bobrov 7, Herun 10, Len 8, Lukashov 10, Mykhailiuk 11, Pustovyi 10, Sanon 8, Skapintsev ne, Sydorov 8, Tkachenko 8, Voinalovych. Herds Bagatskis.
Italy: Spissu 3, Mannion 11, Biligha 4, Tonut 11, Gallinari 10, Melli 17, Fontecchio 20, Ricci 9, Baldasso ne, Polonara 9, Pajola, Datome 3. All. Pozzecco.
