0:52
Caruso on the field in the last quarter
The blue entered and immediately scored two points: his entrance on the field was excellent
0:50
+++ Italy also runs riot in the third quarter +++
The Azzurri close the third quarter ahead by 34 points. Gallinari and Melli lead with 14 points each
0:48
Chism on the field for only 14 minutes
Affected by two fouls committed too early, the Bahrain star has been seen very little on the pitch. So far he has scored only four points, too few for a player of his importance and experience.
0:46
Bahrain gives a lot
Italy has an all too easy game against opponents who seem to have given up psychologically: the gap on the pitch (and in the result) is becoming increasingly abysmal
0:41
Italy, perfect transition times
The Azzurri’s passes in the attacking phase always confuse the opponents who never know who to cover and who to plug the huge gaps that open up in defense.
0:38
Italy, concentration and quality
The Azzurri take advantage of the open spaces left by Bahrain’s far from impenetrable defence
0:34
Polonara, a screaming start
Seven points immediately for Achille Polonara who first hits a long-range shot, then another under the backboard and finally a dunk
0:32
We start again, the third quarter has begun
Match resumes after half-time: first check for Bahrain
0:28
Teams back on the field very soon
The third quarter of the match between Italy and Bahrain will start in a few minutes
0:17
+++ Italy-Bahrain 47-25 at half time +++
Italy goes to the break at half time with a reassuring +22 (12 points from Melli and Gallinari). For the Azzurri, an excellent training session to start off in the best way in this pre-Olympic tournament
0:14
Bahrain, the problem is the aim
Bahrain is playing a more than honorable game but the shots almost never find the basket: the difference in quality between the two national teams is really evident
0:10
Italy’s defense regains confidence
The Azzurri regain confidence after the small lapse in the middle of the second quarter
0:08
Polonara, the first two points arrive
First points of the match for Achille Polonara who scores two free throws
0:05
Timeout per Bahrain
The Bahrain coach called a timeout to reorganize (and give the team a breather)
0:03
Melli, another three points and flies to 10 points in the match
Splendid partial for the Italian who scores three points and rises to 10 points in this match
0:01
Italy, a moment of uncertainty
Pozzecco sees the Italian defense in a moment of slight confusion and calls for a timeout: “Let’s stay focused, head on the game”, the Italian coach told the team
23:59
Due triple consecutive per il Bahrain
Good moment for the Bahrain national team who scores the first two triples (in a row) of the match
23:56
Italy, partial score of 8-0
Italy started the second quarter very well with an 8-0 partial before Bahrain’s basket
23:55
Italy plays with attention and quality
The Azzurri are approaching the match with great seriousness despite the very evident technical and athletic gap between the two teams.
23:52
Gallinari starts off with a bang
Great start to the second quarter with a triple hit by Gallinari
23:50
+++ First quarter ends: 19-9 for Italy +++
At the first mini break, the Azzurri are ahead by ten points: 19-9. Italy is in total control of the match for now
23:48
Abass comes in and scores a triple
The Azzurri immediately on the shields as soon as they entered the field. Gallinari also immediately scores a triple
23:44
Melli puts on a show
Italy plays with great confidence: Melli allows himself a smash
23:40
First Italian triple for Italy
Tonut scores the first three-pointer of the match: Italy takes off
23:39
First two points for Bahrain
Chism scores the first two points for Bahrain after almost five minutes of play. Melli responds immediately in support of the scoreboard. For now the match is under control
23:35
Melli scores the first points of the match
Three points for Melli, Italy goes up 5-0
23:33
Petrucelli’s first basket
The first basket for the Azzurri is Petrucelli who enters the opponent’s area and scores the first two points of the match
23:30
It begins
The first possession is Bahrain’s who immediately miss a free throw
23:29
The formation of Italy
The starting Italian quintet chosen by Pozzecco is composed of Spissu, Tonut, Melli, Polonara and Petrucelli
23:27
Small building with few spectators
The San Juan sports hall can hold 18,000 spectators but tonight there are few people in the stands to watch the match between Italy and Bahrain
23:24
Teams on the field, it’s time for the anthems
Teams on the field, the solemn moment of the national anthems begins: first that of Bahrain, then that of Mameli
23:03
All set in San Juan
In less than half an hour, the Italian basketball adventure in the pre-Olympic will begin: the goal is to gain entry to the next Olympic Games in Paris 2024
22:32
When will the other Group B match be played?
Puerto Rico-Bahrain, the other challenge of Group B (the one that also includes Italy) will take place on Thursday night at 2:30 Italian time. Group A, on the other hand, will debut tonight with Mexico-Lithuania (2:30) and Lithuania-Ivory Coast, scheduled for tomorrow at 23:30
22:26
Gallinari’s beautiful words about Pozzecco
Our champion spoke about the Italian coach during an interview with our newspaper: “Poz is a unique coach, with whom I get along very well. It’s difficult to find someone like him in the NBA. For this reason I’m holding on to him”. Read the whole interview here
22:15
Italy, the only option is victory
All the teams participating in San Juan have only one way to get to the Olympics: to win. The pass for the Games, in fact, will be awarded only to the National Team that wins this pre-Olympic: there are no other ways
22:01
The most anticipated Azzurri
Pozzecco’s Italy starts this pre-Olympic without Simone Fontecchio, Matteo Spagnolo and Gabriele Procida. Three important absences, without a doubt. However, there will be Danilo Gallinari who can still make the difference with his NBA-level quality (he plays for the Milwaukee Bucks) and his great international experience. Danilo showed good form in the two friendlies against Georgia and Spain
21:36
Pozzecco’s words before Bahrain
The Italian coach Gianmarco Pozzecco, in charge since 2022, spoke like this before the opening match against Bahrain: «The rules in our group are few and very clear. First of all, tolerance. Only by helping each other can we overcome difficulties by going beyond our limits. Although the roster is very different from last year’s, the team has understood the importance of taking something away on an individual level to make it available to the collective. Bahrain, Puerto Rico and the other teams that will eventually follow are part of a path that we want to follow step by step with the awareness that what we have built will help us to face obstacles and try to deserve a historic goal.»
21:33
Pozzecco’s squad for the pre-Olympic
Here is the list of the Azzurri called up by Pozzecco for the pursuit of the Olympic pass: Spissu, Mannion, Abass, Tonut, Gallinari, Melli, Ricci, Bortolani, Caruso, Polonara, Pajola, Petrucelli
21:22
Italy-Bahrain, where to watch it on TV
In addition to the live text on our website, the match will be broadcast live on Dazn and Sky Sport Arena (and streaming on Now) starting at 11.30pm
21:06
Italy’s path to the pre-Olympic
The Azzurri will debut tonight against Bahrain at 11:30 p.m. Then on Friday they will face Puerto Rico (2:30 a.m.). The possible semi-final is scheduled for Saturday (10 p.m. or 1 a.m.), the final is scheduled for Sunday at midnight.
20:59
How the pre-Olympic tournament in San Juan works
Italy has been placed in Group B together with Bahrain and Puerto Rico. In Group A, instead, there are Mexico, Lithuania and Ivory Coast. The first two teams of each group go to the semifinals. The winners of the two semifinals will then face each other in the final. The winner of the tournament will obtain the pass to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
20:49
What to fear about Bahrain?
Italy will have to keep their eyes peeled against a national team they have never faced before. In addition to the winger Chism, they will have to keep an eye on Muamil Ameer Hamooda, another very dangerous international with a good amount of experience. The coach is Jad El Hajj, who was on the bench for Lebanon at the World Cup in the Philippines
20:45
The Pitfalls of Bahrain
There is a name to keep an eye on: the naturalized American Wayne Devon Chism. He is the winger of Bahrain and is the most dangerous opponent of the National team that will challenge Pozzecco’s Italy. Born in Jackson, Tennessee, he is a globetrotter and the best scorer of Bahrain in the first two qualifying games for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025
