Italian 'hornets' pull off unexpected FIBA World Cup finish
MANILA, Philippines – Like a “calabrone,” or a hornet, Italy was not supposed to fly.
But it did.
Despite a painful 100-63 defeat at the hands of Team USA, Italy head coach Gianmarco Pozzecco said he is proud of his team.
It was the Azzurri’s biggest defeat in the FIBA World Cup, surpassing their 32-point loss to Yugoslavia in 1978, according to FIBA.
Italy, however, finished in the top eight of the tournament.
“Everybody in the world was thinking that we have no chance to win this game. But, we are here because they are [like the hornet.] A little animal that cannot fly, but it does not know, so it flies,” Pozzecco said at the post-game press conference.
“My players are the same, they are not [supposed] to be here, but they did not know. So we came here [to be among] the best eight teams in the world,” he added.
Italian forward Nicolo Melli went to the press conference crying.
Pozzecco hugged the forward and kissed him before the coach voiced his pride to the team.
“You already understand which kind of person, players and mentality [they had] to show everybody in the world in this tournament. We cannot fly, but we didn’t know. And they did it. That’s amazing,” the spirited coach said.
“They didn’t deserve it play against America because we were first in our group. That’s it. But, that is sports. I love all my players. Before the game, but now, even more. I respect them more than today at 12,” he added.
Melli, meanwhile, underscored that the team “deserves better” in the World Cup.
“We deserve to overcome the quarterfinals, but, you know, you need to learn how to win, and how to lose. One more time, we need to learn how to lose,” the 6-foot-9 forward told reporters.
Italy will be facing the loser of the quarterfinal clash between Latvia and Germany on Thursday in the final classification games.
- Latest
- Trending
