Using a final frame blast, Italy takes the group phase opening of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, downing Angola with an 87-61 dub within the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan (Friday, Aug. 25).
Simone Fontecchio led the charge for Italy with 19 points and five boards, shooting with a sizzling 8-for-14 from the field. Stefano Tonut meanwhile had 18 huge markers to back up the Utah Jazz wing.
Italy stunned Angola at the opening minutes of the last frame, activating an 8-0 run to widen their margin with 7:19 left, 57-65.
Chine Dundao answered with a downtown hit to keep his nation on a striking distance, but the Italians went for a much more massive blitz that saw them leading by 10, 75-65, which was boosted by three-point hit by Giampaolo Ricci.
Angolans waved the white flag eventually after ending their scoring mark by just 10 to cap off the final period as Italy now stands with a first impressive win to start their World Cup campaign.
Dundao paced Angola with 19 points and three assists on a losing effort, while Bruno Fernando tallied 13 points and five boards.
The first three periods saw a tightly contested duel from both sides until Italy skyrocketed for a convincing showcase at the final period.
They locked Angola to an inconsistent 35.4 percent shooting and demonstrated great passing clinic in offense with 22 assists as a group.
Italy now sits atop of the Group A leaderboard with a victory and now waiting for the triumphant between Dominican Republic and the tourney host nation Philippines on who will join them above.
The Blues will look to extend their good start on Sunday, Aug. 27, against Dominicana. Angola, for its part, will seek for a bounce back game over the Philippines to follow.
