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Italy Mounts Dramatic Comeback to Defeat Lithuania in World Cup Qualifiers
🇱🇹 Lithuania /Sports

Italy Mounts Dramatic Comeback to Defeat Lithuania in World Cup Qualifiers

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Italy staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Lithuania 87-84 in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, despite Lithuania holding a double-digit lead late in the game.
  • The win puts Italy in a strong position for the next stage of qualification, while Lithuania advances with three losses, complicating their chances.
  • Italian player Gabriele Procida acknowledged Lithuania's talent but stated Italy proved they were the better team through resilience and strong home crowd support.

Italy's national basketball team secured a stunning 87-84 victory over Lithuania in Bologna, completing a remarkable comeback in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers. Lithuania, despite holding a significant lead with only minutes remaining, faltered in the final stretch, ultimately succumbing to the Italian resurgence. This result concludes the first qualifying round with Lithuania advancing with three losses, a situation that significantly complicates their path to the World Cup.

They are more talented than us, they have NBA players, but we were the better team than them. At the end of the game, we proved it.

— Gabriele ProcidaDescribing Italy's comeback victory over Lithuania.

Italy, conversely, finished the first stage with five wins, positioning them favorably for the next phase. The dramatic turnaround in the closing minutes was fueled by the home crowd's energy and the team's refusal to give up. Gabriele Procida, one of Italy's standout players, highlighted the team's fighting spirit.

"They are more talented than us, they have NBA players, but we were the better team than them. At the end of the game, we proved it," said Procida, who scored 9 points. He added, "We just didn't give up. We had incredible support from the fans. We just played our game."

We just didn't give up. We had incredible support from the fans. We just played our game.

— Gabriele ProcidaExplaining the factors behind Italy's successful comeback.

During the intense match, a verbal altercation occurred between Procida and Lithuania's Matas Buzelis. Procida downplayed the incident, stating, "It was nothing, just a verbal exchange. After the game, we showed each other respect. I wish him luck." He also commented on Buzelis' potential, noting that adapting to FIBA-style basketball might take time for the player who has spent his career in the U.S., but acknowledged his significant talent.

It was nothing, just a verbal exchange. After the game, we showed each other respect. I wish him luck.

— Gabriele ProcidaCommenting on his on-court interaction with Matas Buzelis.

Lithuania's national team is scheduled to reconvene for training in August. Their next stage of qualification will see them face Serbia, Turkey, and Bosnia.

He is very talented and certainly will have no problems playing at this level.

— Gabriele ProcidaAssessing Matas Buzelis' potential.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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