By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Croatia is packing bags for Rio! After one tremendously intense game which was decided in overtime, Aco Petrovic’s warriors bested Italy 84 – 78 Games to win first place in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Rio. The Croatian national team is thus back in the Olympic Games after 2008.
There was no shortage of heroic displays in the Croatian national team in the game. Bojan Bogdanovic who scored 28 points, including some important baskets in overtime, Dario Saric who registered a double-double of 18 points/13 rebounds while showing immense leadership skills and great maturity during crunch time. Or Krunoslav Simon who bombarded at will with 6/10 three-pointers.
But what generally made the difference for the winners was their never-ending fighting spirit, large concentration and focus, especially when in crucial moments of the match.
Elements that the Italian national team lacked, particularly in overtime, where everything was at stake. The tournament’s hosts had gained a psychological advantage after tying the match with a tip-in by Nicolo Melli, but fell short during the extra period, doing one hasty choice after the other, failing to make open shots, and performing way too nervously for the demands of such an important battle.
Marco Belinelli was the top scorer for Italy with 18 points while Danilo Gallinari added 12 along with 8 rebounds.