Eight EuroLeague players named to Italian national basketball team for clash with Lithuania

The Italian national basketball team will feature eight EuroLeague players in their upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifier against Lithuania. Notable inclusions are Nico Mannion, Stefano Tonut, Giampaolo Ricci, Matteo Spagnolo, Gabriele Procida, Francesco Ferrari, Tommaso Baldasso, and Nicola Akele. The remaining four spots on the roster are filled by Leonardo Candi, Amedeo Tessitori, Riccardo Rossato, and Giovanni Emejuru.

This crucial match follows Italy's narrow 82-81 victory over Lithuania in their previous encounter in Klaipėda last November. The upcoming game carries significant weight as both teams aim to carry their first-round wins and head-to-head advantage into the second stage of the qualifiers.

Italy currently leads Group B with four wins and one loss, while Lithuania is in second place with three wins. The Lithuanian team will also face Turkey, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the next qualifying round. The highly anticipated game between Italy and Lithuania is scheduled to tip off at 9 PM Lithuanian time on Sunday. In their first game of the current window, the Italian team convincingly defeated Iceland 102-83.