By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Italian national team will be traveling to Belgrade, Serbia for the Olympic Qualifiers with 14 players since coach Meo Sachetti will make his final two cuts soon before the games begin on June 29.
The 14 players are the following, per the Italian Basketball Federation:
#0 Marco Spissu (Banco di Sardegna Sassari)
#1 Niccolò Mannion (Golden State Warriors – NBA)
#7 Stefano Tonut (Umana Reyer Venezia)
#9 Nicolò Melli (Dallas Mavericks)
#13 Simone Fontecchio (Alba Berlin)
#16 Amedeo Tessitori (Segafredo Virtus Bologna)
#17 Giampaolo Ricci (Segafredo Virtus Bologna)
#23 Awudu Abass (Segafredo Virtus Bologna)
#24 Riccardo Moraschini ( A|X Armani Exchange Milano)
#25 Michele Ruzzier (Openjobmetis Varese)
#31 Michele Vitali (Brose Bamberg )
#33 Achille Polonara (TD System Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz)
#34 Mouhamet Rassoul Diouf (Unahotels Reggio Emilia)
#54 Alessandro Pajola (Segafredo Virtus Bologna)
Dallas Mavericks forward Nicolo Melli and Achille Polonara (expected to soon be officially announced as a Fenerbahce Beko player) Achille Polonara headline this prelininary squad. The most notable absences are Olimpia Milano forward/ national team captain Gigi Datome and Virtus Bologna guard Marco Belinelli.
Italy will face Senegal and Puerto Rico in Group B of Belgrade’s Qualifiers. Host Serbia, Philippines and the Dominican Republic will compete in Group A.
Two teams from each Group advance to a knockout semifinal stage and then the winners move to a Final that will determine the country which will make the Olympics.