A dominated first half, then a very long blackout that allows Greece to get back into the game and in the last quarter even to overtake. But in the final the blues find each other and win the victory that is worth the second place in the group.
Good start for Italy that after a minute of study steals two balls from the Greeks with Pan and Andre and on the counterattack comes the first extension on 6-0 for the blues. The girls from Lardo, however, lift their foot off the accelerator a bit and Greece falls back below -1. But it is only an empty pass, because when Carangelo and her teammates turn up the engine, the opponents immediately go out of speed and the baskets from Zandalasini, Andre and the triple from Carangelo arrive, which forces the Greek to timeout. But on the return to the field Zandalasini’s basket arrives from beyond the arc for 16-5. Italy that controls the final of the fourth, he concedes something but not too much to the Greeks, finds an excellent triple with Romeo and goes to the first stop at 21-13.
Second quarter that sees the blues work harder under the basket, with the percentages lowering, even if in defense nothing is granted to Greece. Fasoula and Stamolamprou are the only weapons that the Greeks try to use, but when Penna and Romeo pick up the pace they put things back in place and Italy goes double-digit ahead. Blue, however, too foul that soon go into bonuses and opponents who take advantage of the free throws to remain clinging to the match. In the final time, however, the blues accelerate, find four free throws with Bestagno, a triple from Pan and go to the long break at 41-24.
Italy got off to a good start in the recovery with Andre and Pan, but then another short blank pass by the blues, who missed too much ball in hand, conceded some easy shots and Greece quickly passed from -21 to -15. He does not find solutions Lardo and blue who see the gap narrow more than it should, with Pan committing unsportsmanlike and a match that returns to 47-41, with a bad ball lost by Zandalasini and the match totally reopened. Furious Lardo during the timeout, but blue who are unable to return to play as in the first half. Only in the last two minutes Italy finds the ability to close in defense and strike in attack, with Penna’s triple and an 8-2 mini-split that sends the teams to the last stop at 58-47 at the end of a quarter to be forgotten.
Greece that does not give up and the triples of Stamolamprou do not let Italy escape and, indeed, the blue always see the Greeks close. And the basket from beyond the Bosgana arch and Spanou’s basket for the incredible draw. And there is also the lost and unsportsmanlike ball of Zandalasini and Greece who are in front for the first time in the match. An unsportsmanlike at Stamolamprou ‘gives’ four points to the blue who finally return to score. Triple from Zandalasini for +6, but Greece responds from beyond the arc and a match that remains in the balance. But the blue now defend, the Greeks do not find points and when Keys is found under the basket alone, the points arrive that close the conversation and Italy who wins 77-67.
Photo: fiba.basketball
