Basketball, Women’s European Championships: Italy knocks out on debut against the Czech Republic

They start off on the wrong foot Female Europeans for theItalbasket. In Tel Aviv in the first match of group B the blues of Linen Lard they were beaten 59-56 by Czech Republic. Wasted opportunity for Italy, which after having closed the first half ahead (33-32), in the third period had managed – thanks to a 13-0 run in the first three and a half minutes – to reach +14 (46 -32). The Czech Republic managed to mend (46-43), the Azzurri returned to +7 before a last fourth point by point. Italy ahead up to 2′ from the end (56-53), Brezinova with a triple equalized at 56, Holesinska with 53″ from the end signed the pass (56-59), response from Zandalasini (58-59) and again +3 by Hamzova. Zandalasini’s triple from the possible draw, one of the three Italians in double figures with 10 points, went out on the iron.

“Congratulations to the Czech Republic for the energy put on the field and for having continued to believe in us, even on the -14” the words of Lino Lardo. “Our approach wasn’t the best but even though we didn’t play great basketball we managed to get a good lead in the third quarter. At that moment we should have killed the game and instead we put the Czech Republic back on track. Now we don’t have to do nothing but reset and return to the field tomorrow against Israel, without thinking too much about the wasted opportunity today”.

ITALY-CZECH REPUBLIC 58-61
(17-17, 33-32; 50-43)
ITALY: Keys* 10 (3/4, 1/2), Villa 4 (2/7), Bestagno 3 (1/2), Verona* 4 (2/3, 0/4), Zandalasini* 10 (5/11 , 0/4), Pan* 6 (0/2, 2/6), Makeup ne, Cubaj (0/1), Santucci, Fassina 2 (1/1, 0/1), Andrè* 10 (4/7 ), Spreafic 9 (0/1, 3/7).
Coach: Lard.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Brezinova 12 (3/6, 2/3), Zeithammerova 2 (1/1), Andelova 5 (1/3, 1/3), Stoupalova 9 (3/6, 1/2), Paurova ne, Vorackova ne , Hamzova 14 (6/7), Vyoralova 3 (0/3, 1/2), Holesinska 14 (1/3, 3/6), Sipova 2 (1/1), Chekhova (0/2), Sklenarova ( 0/2). Coach: Ptackova.
REFEREES: Map Forsberg (Denmark), Michael Proc (Poland), Alexandre Deman (France).
NOTE – T2P: Italy 18/39; Czech Rep. 16/34. T3P: Italy 6/25; Czech Rep. 8/16. TL: Italy 4/7; Czech Rep. 5/10. Rebounds: Italy 38; Czech Rep. 31. Assists: Italy 18; Czech Republic 17. Steals: Italy 13; Czech Rep. 9. Turnover: Italy 18; Czech Republic 20. Fouls: Italy 19; Czech Republic 17.