Italy's advancement to the second qualifying round for the 2027 Basketball World Cup is in the balance. In Livorno, Italy wins again, but this time it's a real contest against Great Britain: 84-75. Coach Banchi's Azzurri now lead the group of four, ahead of Lithuania and Iceland, who have two wins apiece.
The British stepped up their game early, and if it weren't for the amazing Niang (a career-high 23 points), it would have been a tough battle: from 2-7 to 12-17. The visitors dominated for a long time in the second quarter because Italy shot terribly from beyond the arc (1-of-12 from three), but Petrucelli and Niang eventually gave them the lead at halftime: 43-38.
In the third quarter, they were up by 10, but Ellis pulled his team to a 54-54 tie. The return of point guard Marco Spissu (7 assists for the Sassari native) restored order to the offense, and Petrucelli was a factor in both halves. The Azzurri took off in the final quarter.
Italy scoreboard : Della Valle 10, Spissu 2, Mannion 9, Tonut 5, Flaccadori 5, Tessitori 9, Ricci 2, Procida, Niang 23, Suigo, Akele 6, Petrucelli 13. Coach Banchi.
