Basket 3×3: difficult debut for Italy who lose against Ukraine

Men’s Italy made their debut with a bad knockout in the European qualifiers taking place in Costanza, Romania. The Azzurri give in clearly to Ukraine, which starts much better, then avoids the collapse when Italy comes back and runs away in the final.

Italy was immediately in trouble, suffering a 2-0 run, making a lot of mistakes under the basket. The Azzurri are not released and Ukraine extends to 4-0. Ukraine doesn’t stop and with a couple of good actions they go up 5-0. After three minutes Italy unlocked with Conti, but Ukraine responded with a two-point shot to make it 7-1 for their opponents. Nice basket from Cicchetti, but once again the Ukrainians and the Azzurri responded who can’t find a partial to shorten the gap.

Lemmi scores 8-3, then Cicchetti misses a free throw, Conti rebounds, ball again to his teammate who scores 8-4. Good moment for the Azzurri, Ukraine very fouledbut Conti misses the free throw of -3. Mascolo unlocks for -3, then gets fouled on a long shot, two free throws, makes 1 on 2 to make it 8-6 for Ukraine. He made a lot of mistakes, but a shot from distance allowed Ukraine to extend their lead to +4.

Now it is Italy that is blocked and Ukraine that can extend with 3′ from the end. Bomba di Lemmi and Azzurri who try to reopen it on 11-8. Fortunato Conti who suffers a foul when the time for possession was about to run out, but the libero doesn’t go, with Ukraine extending from beyond the arc. Match that ends on 0/2 for Lemmi’s free throws, with Ukraine scoring, being fouled and going on 8-14 for the Ukrainians one minute from the end. Conti scores, free for Mascolo, but that’s not enough and Ukraine wins 18-10.

Photo: fiba. basketball