It proved to be a heartfelt match at the Mall of Asia Arena, with 10,775 fans gathering to witness another exceptional display by Luka Doncic while also bidding a heartfelt farewell to Luigi Datome, who concluded his illustrious career in his final game.
Slovenia emerged victorious with an 89-85 score, matching their best performance previously achieved at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain in 2014. Meanwhile, Italy secured an eighth-place finish, marking their highest ranking since 1998.
Luigi Datome took his final steps off the court, receiving a standing ovation from the enthusiastic ten-thousand-strong crowd in Manila, in recognition of his remarkable contributions throughout his enduring career.
“It was one of the many joys that I received this summer,” Datome described teammates, opponents, and fans celebrating his career during his final showing.
