Italy – Bahrain at the Olympic Basketball Qualifying Tournament: the match report
Few surprises in the starting five of Gianmarco Pozzeccowhich starts with Spissu, Tonut, Petrucelli, Polonara and Melli, therefore starting with Gallinari from the bench. But the 15 minutes that he will reserve for the Gallo will be useful not so much to get the better of Bahrain – qualified through one of the Olympic Pre-Qualification Tournaments – how much to put fuel in view of the next commitment against Puerto Ricoscheduled for Thursday, July 4th.
Italy made things clear in the first quarter, which ended 19-9. The attacks were definitely not in rhythm at the start of the match, but the Azzurri broke the deadlock with Petrucelli and tried to escape with Melli (7 points for the captain in the first quarter). Bahrain needed to get to the middle of the first quarter for the first basket with Wayne Chismbut the main offensive weapon of the Asians goes to the bench immediately after with two fouls. In the meantime, Pozzecco’s team also finds the way from three: Tonut, the new arrival Abass and Gallinari bring the advantage to +13. A foul by Mannion a few seconds from the siren, however, sends Bahrain to the free throw line three times and Rashed is impeccable.
An 8-0 partial further directs the game towards the blue tracks in the early stages of the second quarter. The first two triples by Bahrain, scored by Haji (the second with a great help from the scoreboard), are not enough to put Italy in difficulty, who however stumbles into a moment of little offensive lucidity. Melli once again takes care of maintaining a solid margin, then Gallinari in the post does the rest: a turn and a dunk, 35-19. Upon returning from the timeout, Bahrain finds the jumper with Hamoda, but in fact it is the last gasp. Melli and Tonut easily reach the rim and the final free throw by Spissu brings the result to 47-23. Isa’s 2/2 with the clock stopped lightens the deficit to 47-25.
We return to the parquet with a triple for +25 Achille Polonara and Hamooda’s response from the arc, but the Italian number 33 is the absolute protagonist with the counterattack dunk for his very personal 7-0 partial. Italy’s percentages are back above 50%, Bahrain manages to hit another three with Haji, but in the paint they leave the field completely free to Tonut and Melli. Spissu in penetration finds the layup for 64-37, maximum advantage that will be updated by Petrucelli’s tap-in and Gallinari’s finger roll, once again without any notable scoring in the area. Bahrain’s only offensive threat is still Haji from three, while Ricci enters the scoresheet with the points of +32, Mannion on the buzzer scores the basket for 76-42 and the last quarter is a formality.
Pozzecco gives space to the bench, with the entrances of Caruso and Bortolani: the first shows up with a great basket in the post and 2/2 from the free throw line, the second with the first of the three triples of the evening for the 85-42. The set pieces by Hamoda and Hasan do not lighten the partial much, which reaches +47. Isa also shows up in this fraction, but Bahrain does not put up resistance once again under the basket. This time thanks Polonara, then Mannion from the arc goes beyond the 50-point advantage and Caruso nails the dunk for 107-53. Bortolani closes in double figures and The credits roll with the basket for 114-53. The Endin the most peremptory way, for an Italy that begins its journey without distractions in search of a place in Paris 2024 .
2024-07-02 23:56:18
#Result #match #Bahrain
