MANILA (Philippines) – Italy continue to have Serbia’s number as they slowed down the Balkan side’s offense and Simone Fontecchio poured in 30 points for a 78-76 win to start the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Second Round Group I and give Italy good chances of reaching the Quarter-Finals. Italy rallied from 16 points down to jump to 3-1 in the Second Round while defeating Serbia for the third straight time – following the 2021 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament Belgrade Final and FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Round of 16. Serbia, who had won their previous seven games against Italy before that, dropped to 3-1.
Italy came out on fire from deep and opened a 10-point first quarter lead which was gone by early in the second quarter. The game was tight the rest of the first half but Serbia broke it open with an 18-4 surge to star the third quarter for a 60-44 lead. Italy punched right back with 17-2 run to pull within 62-61 early in the fourth quarter – Luigi Datome scoring 10 points in 90 seconds. The Italians’ momentum continued out to a 28-7 spurt and a 72-65 cushion. Marko Guduric nailed a triple with 50 seconds to make it 76-74 only to have Fontecchio answer with 33 seconds to go. Italy improved greatly their chances of getting into the Quarter-Finals and they will finish off the Second Round play on Sunday September 4. Serbia will look to bounce back from their first loss as they face off against Group A winners Dominican Republic.
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