Down by 16, the Azzurri clawed back for the win.
Serbia was still in the middle of a huge scoring run in the third quarter of their second round game vs Italy in the FIBA World Cup, 62-53, when Azzurri captain Luigi Datome decided to take matters into his own hands.
With 1:02 remaining in the third quarter, Datome scored on a dunk. He then received a rebound and dish from Simone Fontecchio for a three-pointer. Fontecchio then blocked a shot from Marko Guduric and immediately gave the ball to his captain. Datome missed.
Alessandro Pajola got it back for the Azzurri and gave Gigi another shot. He made it this time. Of course he did.
In nearly one minute of action, Datome went on a personal 8-0 run to cut the lead down to three heading to the fourth quarter. Italy eventually won the game, 78-76.
"I'm proud of these group of guys," Datome told reporters after the game. "We're not the best team in the World Cup, but we keep believing."
Datome was consistently being asked about his scoring stretch, but the captain repeatedly deflected the credit.
"My team believed in me and my coach. I'm happy that I keep my contribution. Today, we all celebrate, we all contribute. It's a team job."
He was asked again.
"I would like to talk about the team. I talk a lot about myself. It's a team win against a great team," Datome replied.
This has been an incredible run for Italy against Serbia. The Eagles won their 2019 FIBA World Cup matchup by scoring more than 20 points in each quarter of that game to waylay the Serbs, 92-77.
But during the pandemic, something happened. Italy got the lone spot during the 2021 FIBA Olympic Qualifiers in Belgrade.
Gianmarco Pozzecco was tapped as the coach and Italy again stunned Serbia, 94-86, this time in the EuroBasket 2022 round of 16.
And then on Friday in the FIBA World Cup, the Azzurri climbed back from a 16-point deficit to snatch the win and hike its record to 3-1.
Comebacks, needless to say, are noting new for Italy.
The Azzurri even erased a 26-point deficit in the third quarter against Puerto Rico back in 2019.
Pozzecco explained why Italy so locked in. The answer was simple.
"We respect Serbia," he said, noting the country's origins as part of basketball great Yugoslavia.
"That's what we expect of them on the court. We were really focused. Down by 16, but we never give up."
"Nobody in the world was thinking we would win the game," he admitted. "My players deserve this, I love them."
On Sunday, Italy will face a familiar opponent in Puerto Rico as both teams look to bolster their hopes for a quarterfinals appearance.
(MDB)