The Under 17 national team closes the Utebo Tournament (Spain) with a victory. Coach Mangone’s team, after the overtime success against Canada and the knockout against the home team, prevailed over Puerto Rico 86-70.
The best scorer for the Azzurri was Matteo Accorsi with 23 points. Diego Garavaglia also reached double figures with 15 points.
Two-faced race. In the first half the Azzurri’s hands were very hot, and by mid-match they had already scored 12 (out of 16 attempts) triples. With percentages like this (75%) Italy builds a gap that reaches +29 before the long break, and goes to the break with 61 (!) points scored. The drop in percentages, in some ways almost impossible to maintain at those standards for the entire 40 minutes, causes a rapprochement for Puerto Rico, which becomes very dangerous with -4 with 4 minutes to go (67-71).
The Azzurri do not risk any further, and close on +16.
Thus ends, with two victories and one defeat, the last preparation tournament in view of the Under 17 World Cup, scheduled in Istanbul (Turkey) from 29 June to 7 June.
Italy will now return to Novarello where they will undergo their final training sessions before the trip on 27 June to Turkey, the last stop of summer 2024.
At the FIBA U17 World Cup, Italy, qualified thanks to the second place obtained last year in the Under 16 European Championship, is included in Group C, with the hosts Turkey, Argentina and New Zealand. In the round of 16 they will meet Group D, made up of Australia, Canada, Egypt and Germany.
The scoreboard
Puerto Rico-Italy (15-27, 22-34, 15-7, 18-18)
Puerto Rico: Vigo 6, Pino 7, Cruz, M. Santiago 6, R. Santiago 17, Dill 7, Roman 4, Rosa 1, Colon 2, Stewart 10, Montes 10, Quinones.
Italy: Accorsi 23, Carnevale 7, Ceccato 6, Hassan 8, Eramo 8, Placinschi, Granai, Angeletti 3, Garavaglia 15, Frosini 8, Suigo 8, Nistrio. All: Mangone
The scoreboard for the second day
Spain-Italy 65-55 (16-17, 17-14, 17-9, 15-15)
Spain: Villar 2, Kemu Monzo 7, Del Pino 14, Huelves 2, Giménez 13, Blanco, Campoy 11, Sancoi Baldè, Del Castillo 3, Platteeuw 5, Ruiz 2, Gomez 6. All: Prado
Italy: Accorsi 2, Carnevale 5, Ceccato 4, Lonati 9, Hassan 15, Eramo, Placinschi 3, Granai, Angeletti, Frosini 7, Suigo 8, Nistrio 2. All: Mangone
The scoreboard for the first day
Italy-Canada 91-82 (27-15, 18-12, 7-21, 18-22, 21-12)
Italy: Accorsi 16, Carnevale 3, Ceccato 13, Hassan 14, Eramo 8, Placinschi, Granai, Angeletti 4, Garavaglia 8, Frosini 16, Suigo 2, Nistrio 7. All: Mangone
Canada: Grandison, Wall 13, Charles 2, Upshaw 8, Ethier 3, Sadler 25, Anamali 4, Meyer 5, Louis, Kitson 10, Osaruyi 8, Ilic 4. All: Cheng
 – Italian Basketball Federation – Italy closes with a victory at the Utebo Tournament. Beat Puerto Rico 86-70 (Achieved 23 points)){kind=link}