Italy has fun and wins 72-68 in Spain but finishes in second place in the group. Caruso shines with 19 points

The match in Caceres, in Extremadura, does not start in a sparkling way for the two teams, there are many mistakes on both sides, and at the first break it is 16-13 for the Spain lie theItalia is in contact with the three-point play by Visconti. In the second period Garcia e Perez respond to 9 practically consecutive points of Carusoit is not Red Furies they escape on 27-20. The Azzurri but they have great impact from Casarin and then they equalize diouf in the dunk he signs the overtaking on 30-29 and at the interval he is 33-29 for the bomb from the corner of Woldetensae.

The third quarter is totally blue-branded: Casarin scores his first field goal in National for +5, then he scores two free throws and a table triple for +9, finally it’s a triple of Visconti to give +12 on 48-36. There Spain swerves, not even timeouts by scario change the inertia, and theItalia reaches up to +15 on 63-48 with a bomb of Severini and a fly field goal by Bortolani. At that point the Red Furies are taken by the hand by the talent of Nunezscores two baskets in a row for -9, then I’m Busquets e Ferran Bassas to sign the -5; L’Italia but don’t give up, Mannion takes responsibility and +7 again. In the final a three-point game by Bass is worth -4, Severini fails from the bow in the last few seconds and so closes on +4, 72-68. It’s not enough for first place but the victory boosts morale and allows the coach Pozzecco and his boys to celebrate with merit.

The scoreboard

Spain-Italy 68-72

• Spain: Bassas 11, Busquets 7, Nunez 8, Parra 7, Perez 15, Diaz 4, Garcia 5, Guerrero, Reyes, Salvo 7, Vicedo, Vila 4. All. Scario.
• Italia: Casarin 10, Flaccadori 5, Mannion 10, Severini 8, Tessitori 2, Bortolani 2, Caruso 19, Diouf 2, Moraschini 2, Spissu 3, Visconti 6, Woldetensae 3. All. Pozzecco

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