By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Italian national team began its preparation games ahead of the 2019 World Cup with an 88-60 win over Romania in the first day of the Trentino Basket Cup. Marco Belinelli, Danilo Gallinari and captain Gigi Datome were out of Italy’s squad for the game.
“There aren’t any hasty judgments after tonight’s victory,” said Italy coach Meo Sachetti, per the Federation. “I have seen some positive and others less positive but overall, it was a good initial test and we were able to try some situations that will be recurrent for us.”
Alessandro Gentile led Italy’s scorers with 14 points. Awudu Abass and Pietro Aradori added 10 points each. Bogdan Nicolescu and Emanuel Cate scored 12 points apiece for Romania.
“It was a good test. We have worked a lot in the training camp in Pinzolo,” Aradori said. The Virtus Bologna guard played his 150th game with his country’s national team.
Italy is facing Ivory Coast Wednesday (31/7). The latter beat Switzerland 69 – 68.