Italy once again displayed its mastery over Serbia by effectively stifling Serbia’s offensive maneuvers.
Simone Fontecchio’s remarkable 30-point performance propelled Italy to a hard-fought 78-76 victory in the opening match of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Second Round Group I.
This triumph substantially bolsters Italy’s chances of advancing to the Quarter-Finals.
Despite initially trailing by 16 points, Italy staged an impressive comeback, now holding a 3-1 record in the Second Round.
This marks their third consecutive win against Serbia, following previous successes in the 2021 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament Belgrade Final and the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Round of 16.
Prior to these victories, Serbia had won seven consecutive matchups against Italy. However, Serbia’s record dropped to 3-1 following this contest.
Italy got off to a strong start, hitting several three-pointers and establishing a 10-point lead in the first quarter. However, Serbia quickly erased this lead in the early stages of the second quarter.
The game remained tightly contested for the remainder of the first half. In the third quarter, Serbia managed to seize control with an 18-4 run, securing a 60-44 lead.
Italy initiated a spirited comeback in the fourth quarter, embarking on a 17-2 run to narrow the deficit to 62-61, with Luigi Datome contributing 10 points in just 90 seconds.
Italy’s momentum continued with an impressive 28-7 run, resulting in a 72-65 lead. Although Marko Guduric made a three-pointer with 50 seconds left to bring the score to 76-74, Simone Fontecchio responded with a crucial basket just 33 seconds before the conclusion of the game.
“It feels good but we haven’t done anything yet so we need to win another game to overcome the group. But it feels good to win always,” Italy center Nicolo Melli said.
Watch the game highlights between Serbia and Italy in the Second Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023:
