For Gilas Pilipinas’ marketing campaign within the 2023 FIBA World Cup, GMA News Online linked with Milos Jovanovic, a veteran Serbian sportswriter with an curiosity in Philippine basketball, to assist break issues down from an outdoor perspective. Read his previews of the Philippines-Dominican Republic sport right here and the Philippines-Angola sport right here.
In fashionable psychology, the time period “deja vu“, which in French means “already seen“, refers to a sense that somebody has lived by means of a sure state of affairs earlier than as soon as it unravels in entrance of his eyes. In basketball at this time, it may additionally consult with the Gilas Pilipinas teaching employees observing the FIBA World Cup draw again in April on the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Manila. As the tens of millions across the globe watched Luis Scola, LA Tenorio and others draw the Philippines into the group along with Dominican Republic, Angola, and Italy, one may simply think about the Gilas braintrust of Chot Reyes, Tim Cone and Jong Uichico trade quick glances and utter “Ano ba? Sila na naman?“ (or “What? Them once more?“) in disbelief.
Granted, some circumstances modified, however that issues little. It appeared that the celebs had aligned in such a method that revanche is on the playing cards for the hoops-crazy jap Asian nation, for the luck of the draw introduced them very acquainted foes to fulfill at their very own dwelling courtroom. The Dominicans, who bested staff Pilipinas in Belgrade two years in the past, will kick it off in Bulacan, after which it’s time to fulfill two antagonists from the FIBA World Cup in China from 2019 – the Angolans and the Italians.
For the time being, the bragging rights belong firmly to the opposite facet, as Gilas holds a agency 0-3 in these three latest encounters. In the earlier articles, we reminded you ways Gilas fared vs. the Dominican Republic and Angola, and profiled these two sides intimately as properly. Now, the time is true to speak a bit about Italy, the nominal favorite of the group – and, historically, one of many huge query marks earlier than each match.
Over the final twenty years, you may have made a fortune when you have been to precisely predict how Italy would end at a significant match – and, consequently, lose all of it subsequent time round. Following their late-90s heyday, throughout which Italians emerged as probably the most severe challenger to the Yugoslav basketball hegemony, and which noticed them win Eurobasket silver in 1997, gold in 1999 and bronze in 2003, coupled with Olympic silver in Athens 2004, it was one wild – and normally disappointing – journey for the Azzuri. They would usually arrive on the match in some form of favorite or darkish horse capability, then perish lengthy earlier than medals come into play. And no person may fairly determine it out how or why.
It can be harsh to say that Italians lacked expertise. In the earlier many years, star gamers comparable to Andrea Bargnani, Marco Bellinelli, Gigi Datome, and Danilo Gallinari would attempt their greatest, but the outcomes by no means got here. Carlo Recalcati, who received the Italian scudetto teaching Varese, Fortitudo Bologna and Siena, tried to gel them right into a cohesive battle formation – and failed. So did Ettore Messina, one in all Europe’s most celebrated coaches of the trendy period, and Simone Pianigiani, whose high-octane method did not ignite their fortunes. It was a standard joke alongside basketball journalists that Italy wanted 4 balls in play to face an opportunity, because the NBA stars may by no means fairly discover their taking pictures rhythm – nor agree who must be the one chucking it up when it issues most.
The tides began to show just lately considerably. Old hand Meo Sacchetti, a burly, bodily energy ahead in his enjoying days who by no means shied away from contact, shocked Belgrade two years in the past by vaulting Azzuri over the favoured dwelling staff straight into the Tokyo Olympics, the place they positioned respectable fifth. Saccheti resigned quickly after, and was changed by Gianmarco Pozzecco, a vigorous, flamboyant firebrand of a personality who not so way back was the toast of the Italian championship the place he flourished as an eccentric level guard for Varese.
Pozzecco continued proper the place Sacchetti left off. His staff snuck into the eight finals of the final 12 months’s Eurobasket, then repeated the Belgrade heroics by unceremoniusly dumping Serbia out of the competitors – once more. Despite having a loaded squad, full with NBA MVP Nikola Joki? and Euroleague MVP Vasilije Mici?, Serbians may solely watch in despair because the likes of Marco Spissu, Simone Fontecchio, and Achille Polonara poured triple after triple en path to a well-known victory. The mere recollection of that occasion makes me attain for aspirin, so it’s greatest if we depart this subject closed for now. One 12 months later, the Italians will look to construct on their Eurobasket kind in a more-less unchanged roster, and search for extra scalps to gather en route to a different stunning (take this any method you need) end.
(Simone Fontecchio of Italy on the FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers. Photo: fiba.basketball)
Unlike with the Dominican Republic and Angola, there are only a few unknowns on the Italian roster. The core of their squad options closely in Euroleague and Italian nationwide competitors, with Fontecchio the lone NBA export, presently Jordan Clarkson’s teammate with the Utah Jazz. The squad that Pozzecco brings to Manila has been round for some time, is aware of one another properly, and can try to do what they normally do greatest – put on out opposition with mixed protection, whereas relying closely on their bounce taking pictures capacities on the opposite finish.
The huge names listed below are undoubtedly Fontecchio and Nicolo Melli. Fontecchio, a 6’7“ guard-forward, noticed restricted enjoying time with the Jazz final season, averaging near fifteen minutes over fifty-two video games, with modest averages of 6.3 factors on 33% taking pictures from past the arc. But let this not idiot you – the Abruzzo native is thought for his speedy scoring outbursts, and isn’t the one you need to depart open at any time limit whereas he’s on courtroom. His deadly taking pictures contact – profession 40% for 3 in Euroleague – is a feared weapon in Italy’s arsenal.
(Italy’s Nicolo Melli on the FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers. Photo: fiba.basketball)
Thirty-two 12 months previous Melli, who alternates between the ability ahead and middle positions, spent a while within the NBA as properly, however after splitting two seasons between New Orleans and Dallas he discovered himself again within the Euroleague with Olimpia Milano. A strong rebounder, who simply can cowl each paint positions, Melli has been a key element of Pozzecco’s attacking schemes – he is an efficient passer out of double groups, however most significantly, his bounce shot is constant sufficient to be revered by the opposing coaches. Melli’s versatility, in addition to his elite hoops IQ, is one thing that the Gilas employees ought to take specific word of – he greater than held his personal towards Joki? in 2022, which is certainly one thing value noting. Expect Italy to rely lots on his stretch talents, with Melli coming out to shoot from midrange and three-point positions.
The veteran Datome, the lone remaining fragment from these Bargnani-led squads, will dance one final time in Manila – the bearded swingman from Montebelluna introduced his retirement earlier this 12 months, with the World Cup being his final foray into aggressive basketball. He’s not prone to characteristic closely, and his protection leaves lots to be desired at this level of his profession, however he nonetheless is a succesful scorer who will punish you if left unguarded.
Similar will be stated for almost all of the Italian supporting solid surrounding Fontecchio and Melli. Whether it’s stretch ahead Polonara, skilled two-guard Stefano Tonut or quick-release level Spissu, it’s an ill-advised plan of action to sag off on any of them – belief me, I do know it solely too properly. Under no circumstance ought to any of these discover open seems, as a result of in the event that they do, they are going to make you remorse these defensive lapses. Alessandro Pajola gives some measurement and protection on the perimeter, whereas Nico Mannion misses out this time – the one-time Golden State Warrior performed sparingly the final two seasons, following a severe bout with a bacterial an infection.
If Italy does have an Achilles heel, it could be their inside presence. Remove Melli, and the listing is much from spectacular – Paul Biligha is an undersized pivot who helps some on the boards, however he’s not an offensive presence. Veteran Giampaolo Ricci has been across the block and can finish some metal to the rotation underneath the boards, whereas Luca Severini and Mo Diouf usually are not anticipated to hold a giant load. The incontrovertible fact that Pozzecco favours a smaller lineup with Melli, Polonara, Fontecchio, Tonut and Spissu comes as no shock. Also, one can ask as properly whether or not the Azzuri really have a Plan B in case their taking pictures deserts them on the day.
(Luigi Datome of Italy vs Gilas in 2019 FIBA World Cup. Photo: fiba.basketball)
Four years in the past in Foshan, Datome and Amedeo Della Valle, now additionally absent, bullied Gilas en path to a blowout victory. But as we established fairly just a few occasions already, then was then, and now could be now. The Italians will depend on their streaky shooters to put on Filipino defenses, and this recipe bore fruit loads of occasions. But ought to their jumpers fail quick within the early phases, the vocal Araneta crowd would possibly begin swaying the house facet in direction of one thing magical.
If you watch NBA recurrently, you simply know that Clarkson has the power to take over video games, however seldom he’s given that chance correct. Here – it received’t be the case. I assure you he’ll eat somebody up with a monster 40-point efficiency. And it simply may very well be this enigmatic Italian staff.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
