In Sao Paulo, Brazil, the Under 23 wheelchair basketball team wrote a page of history: 64-39 over the USA, who had never been beaten by an Italian youth team. The second success at the World Championships for the team led by coach Fabio Castellucci came after a game dominated especially on defense: the Americans were allowed just 26% of the shot. Cristiano Uras of Sassari, from Dinamo Lab, scored 2 points.
“We were hoping for a game like this,” coach Castellucci commented on the 40th; “They are a great team but we worked hard and today we saw the results. Since the retreat in Italy I have been working hard on defense, because in attack we have quintets that are always capable of making the difference. This success is a great injection of confidence and a message to the rest of the teams in this World Cup.”
For the Under National Team, the next match is scheduled for Sunday 15 June at 7pm Italian time against the European champions Great Britain, a crossroads already decisive for the balance of Group B.
Italy scoresheet: Da Silva Pelizari 22, Sbuelz 13, Boganelli 11, Balsamo 10, Topo 4, Uras 2, Tomaselli 2, Oujedid.