In the second half, the home team dictated the pace in attack and the toughness in defense. Puerto Rico wins 80-69 and Italy will be forced to face Lithuania in the semi-final on Saturday at 10pm. The other semi-final will see Puerto Rico and Mexico opposing each other. The winners will compete for the only place available for the Paris Olympics.
Not an easy match from the start, although at least in the first half Pozzecco's Azzurri managed to fight back blow for blow and also stay ahead by 6 points: 21-27 and 28-34 with Abass, author of two triples like Marco Spissu and Mannion . The three-point shot itself was disastrous for Italy who, without the aforementioned trio, managed a miserable 2/13.
On the other hand, the NBA point guard Alvarado (New Orleans) was unleashed and alone made 7/10 from the arc, dragging Puerto Rico to victory with 29 points in a second half where the score was 45-29 for the hosts.
Thus Marco Spissu from Sassari: «Congratulations to Puerto Rico for the victory. Now it's time for us to rest, watch the videos to make small adjustments and return to the field on Saturday to face Lithuania and return to the field again on Sunday against Puerto Rico. Personally, it will be the first time against the Baltics, a very strong team. We want to play our cards to the end."
Italy scoreboard : Spissu 9 (1/1, 2/6 from three), Mannion 11 (2/5, 2/6), Abass 8 (1/2, 2/5), Tonut 6 (3/5, 0/ 2), Gallinari 14 (5/7, 0/1), Melli 7 (2/6, 0/3), Ricci 7 (1/4, 1/2), Bortolani none, Caruso none, Polonara 3 (1/ 2 threes), Pajola 2 (1/1, 0/1), Petrucelli 2 (1/2, 0/2). All. Pozzecco
