The first race in San Juan of the group was practically training to get a pass to the Paris Olympics. The national team coached by Gianmarco Pozzecco beats the very modest Bahrain 114-53, which is not even among the ten best Asian teams. On Friday at 2 in the morning the challenge to the hosts for the lead of the group.
The physical and above all technical difference was really too great with the quintet directed by Spissu leading the match straight away despite a few too many shooting errors: 11-2 in the 7th minute. Once the Azzurri broke up they spread, dominating with the Melli-Gallinari duo, who despite being two wingers made a loud statement inside the area against the Bahraini big men: 47-25.
The match after the break was uneventful. For the Sassari native Marco Spissu 7 assists.
Italy's scoreboard: Italy: Spissu 6 (2/3, 0/2 threes), Mannion 9 (3/5, 1/2), Abass 11 (3/4, 1/3), Tonut 10 (3 /5, 1/3), Gallinari 14 (2/3, 3/3), Melli 14 (6/6, 0/1), Ricci 9 (3/7, 1/2), Bortolani 11 (1/1 , 3/4), Caruso 11 (4/4), Polonara 13 (4/7, 1/4), Pajola (0/1 from three), Petrucelli 6 (3/3, 0/2). All. Pozzecco
