As the late-August FIBA window brings World Cup qualifiers into high gear, Olimpia Milano faces a divided preseason roster as six key biancorossi players report for international duty. According to reports from Real Olimpia Milano, the club’s international contingent spans European qualifiers and American qualifiers alike, testing depth and conditioning for the upcoming campaign.
The Italian Block: Akele, Ricci, Tonut, and Thompson
The Italian national team enters the second European phase holding a strong 5-1 record, sitting second in the standings under head coach Luca Banchi, as detailed by Real Olimpia Milano. The Azzurri hold a two-game cushion and the head-to-head tiebreaker over Lithuania, which currently sits fourth. With the top three teams in the group securing World Cup berths, Italy rides a five-game winning streak into a critical stretch.
Four Olimpia Milano players anchor the squad: Nicola Akele, Pippo Ricci, Stefano Tonut, and Darius Thompson. Reports from Real Olimpia Milano note that while a high-profile matchup looms against Serbia in Pesaro on August 31, the August 28 clash against Bosnia in Tuzla carries massive group implications. Securing a victory in Bosnia would help Italy build separation from a direct rival before navigating a demanding back-half schedule featuring tests against Serbia and Turkey.
Marko Guduric and Serbia’s Group Standing
In the same qualifying group, Marko Guduric prepares for high-stakes fixtures with the Serbian national team. As outlined by Real Olimpia Milano, Serbia sits in a tighter qualification spot with just a one-game margin over the fourth-place position. Their window opens with an August 28 home fixture against Iceland in Belgrade, followed by the showdown against Italy.
Guduric arrives in strong form after logging two high-level tune-up friendlies against France, where Serbia split results with a home win and a narrow last-second road defeat. According to Real Olimpia Milano, Guduric tallied 20 points across the two games, including a go-ahead basket with four seconds remaining in the second contest before France answered at the buzzer.
Leandro Bolmaro and Argentina’s Americas Campaign
Across the Atlantic, Leandro Bolmaro joins the Argentina national team for the Americas qualifiers. Real Olimpia Milano reports that La Selección holds a solid 5-1 record, trailing only Canada (6-0) in the group standings, alongside Uruguay (5-1) and ahead of a chasing pack consisting of Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and Panama at 2-4.
Argentina hosts Puerto Rico in Mar del Plata on August 28 before traveling to Québec City to face Canada on September 1. According to Real Olimpia Milano, the match against Canada offers a prime opportunity to challenge for the top spot in the group, aided by the expected absence of several Canadian NBA stars.
Moses Wright and North Macedonia
Moses Wright takes a different international path, leaving Milano’s preseason camp to join North Macedonia for the EuroBasket 2029 pre-qualifiers, according to Real Olimpia Milano. With only the group winner advancing past Austria and Cyprus, Wright’s fixture list features an August 30 match in Vienna before he returns to Italy to resume club preparations.
For updates on the team’s preseason progress and the return of international players, follow official club announcements as Olimpia Milano builds toward the new season.
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