By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Italian national team is preparing for the upcoming game against France this Friday in Bologna and coach Gianmarco Pozzecco has cut recent NBA draftees Gabriele Procida (No.36) and Matteo Spagnolo (No. 50).
As Pozzecco said: “Gabriele and Matteo (photo) have the future ahead of them judging by their great talent, also confirmed by their pick in the NBA Draft. I thank them, and these are not words of convenience, for their efforts in recent days and for confirming, after what their teammates and staff had told me, that they are also two good guys. This made it painful to make these decisions in a context where things are progressing in harmony, but it was inevitable. I don’t want to call them ‘cuts’ because the national team adventure is long and unfolds over several competitions even during the year. All those who are not here today will be able to be protagonists at the next opportunity from the perspective of an enlarged group of players”.
Three more players must be cut from a roster that includes the following:
# 00 Amedeo Della Valle (1993, 194, G, Germani Brescia)
# 0 Marco Spissu (1995, 184, G, Umana Reyer Venice)
# 1 Niccolò Mannion (2001, 190, G, Segafredo Virtus Bologna)
# 6 Paul Biligha (1990, 200, C, Armani Exchange Milan)
# 7 Stefano Tonut (1993, 194, G, Armani Exchange Milan)
# 8 Danilo Gallinari (1988, 208, F, Boston Celtics – NBA)
# 9 Nicolò Melli (1991, 206, F, Armani Exchange Milan)
# 13 Simone Fontecchio (1995, 203, F, Utah Jazz – NBA)
# 16 Amedeo Tessitori (1994, 208, C, Umana Reyer Venice)
# 17 Giampaolo Ricci (1991, 202, F, Armani Exchange Milan)
# 25 Tommaso Baldasso (1998, 192, G, Armani Exchange Milan)
# 33 Achille Polonara (1991, 205, F, Anadolu Efes Istanbul – Turkey)
# 54 Alessandro Pajola (1999, 194, G, Segafredo Virtus Bologna)
# 70 Luigi Datome (1987, 203, F, Armani Exchange Milan)
# 77 John Petrucelli (1992, 193, G, Germani Brescia)