TRENTINO (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - It's been an unforgettable summer for Awudu Abass.

From his great performances with the Azzurri to deciding to leave EA7 Milan for Germani Brescia, and then playing in the NBA Summer League before getting married to his girlfriend, Anna, it's been non-stop.

The 25-year-old is now back with Italy's national side, wanting to give all he can to a team that's hoping to play at a FIBA Basketball World Cup for the first time since 2006.

"THE PRIDE OF WEARING THE AZZURRI JERSEY FOR ME IS ALWAYS VERY STRONG. I ALWAYS DREAMED OF WEARING IT SINCE I WAS A CHILD, WHEN I USED TO WATCH (GIANMARCO) POZZECCO AND (GIANLUCA) BASILE ON TV  DOING UNBELIEVABLE THINGS."- Abass

Since running onto the court for that very first FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers game against Romania on November 24 of last year, Abass has been keen to wear the Italy shirt.

"Playing in Turin against Romania was my first in an official game with the Italian team in Italy, so the emotion was particular," he said, "but for me the pride of wearing the Azzurri jersey is always very strong.

"I always dreamed of wearing it since I was a child, when I used to watch (Gianmarco) Pozzecco and (Gianluca) Basile on TV  doing unbelievable things."

Pozzecco and Basile were members of Italy's silver-medal winning side at the 2004 Olympics.

"Now that my time has come, I want to do my best to deserve everyone's trust," Abass went on,

One of only five Italians to play in all six of the team's First Round games, the 6ft 7in (2.00m) forward ranks first in total minutes (130), first in rebounds (30) and first in the efficiency rating (89).

After a solid debut in which he scored 5 points and corralled 4 rebounds in a 75-70 triumph over Romania in Turin, his growth was exponential.

“Abi”, who had not hit double figures in scoring in his previous games with the national team, poured in 13 in each of the next three Qualifiers, wins over Croatia (80-64), the Netherlands (80-62) and Romania (101-50), and then had 14 and 18, respectively, in the third window defeats to Croatia (78-72) and the Dutch (81-66).

The curious thing is there had been the risk that Abass might never wear Italy’s senior team jersey. Though born and raised in Italy, the former Cantu captain could not be called up for the national youth teams before his 18th birthday since his parents were of foreign nationalities. His father was Ghanaian and mother Nigerian. He could only request Italian citizenship once he'd turned 18.

"Being in possession of both Italian and Ghanaian passports, I got information to play for Ghana but I soon realized that this was not what I wanted," he recalled. "I was born in Italy, I started playing basketball in Italy."

"WE'RE APPROACHING AN IMPORTANT PHASE OF OUR CAREERS WITH THE NATIONAL TEAM. THE FIBA BASKETBALL WORLD CUP IS COMING IN ONE YEAR, THEN THERE WILL BE THE OLYMPIC GAMES AND THE FIBA EUROBASKET. MY DREAM IS TO EARN A SPOT IN THE SQUAD FOR ALL THESE EVENTS."- Abass

The first big competition in which he wore the blue jersey was the FIBA U20 European Championship in 2012 and 2013.  He had a major impact , too.

With Italy capturing the title in 2013, both he and Amedeo Della Valle made the All-Tournament Team. Five years later and a similar situation unfolded. Italy excelled, at least in their first four games of the Qualifiers, with Della Valle the top scorer and Abass the man that was everywhere.

Stefano Tonut, a member of the Azzurri now, was also in that Italy team that defeated Latvia, 67-60, to lift the U20 trophy in 2013. It's a memory that Abass treasures.

"Stefano Tonut was also part of that group," Abass said. "It's nice to look back to where we were at that time and share this experience together.

"We're approaching an important phase of our careers with the national team. The FIBA Basketball World Cup is coming in one year, then there will be the Olympic Games (in 2020) and the FIBA EuroBasket (in 2021). My dream is to earn a spot in the squad for all these events. Playing with Amedeo and Stefano is even more beautiful."

One step at a time, though. First of all, a spot in the first-ever 32-team FIBA Basketball World Cup is still to be conquered, starting from the first two games of the Second Round of the Qualifiers against Poland (September 14th, Bologna) and Hungary (September 17th, Debrecen) with Italy veterans Luigi Datome and Niccolo Melli playing for the first time on the Road to China 2019.

Datome and Melli will bring points and leadership to Italy against Poland and Hungary

"I'm happy if we are the best team we can be," Abass said. "We need the experience and the qualities of players like these, alongside younger guys like me and Amedeo. We need all the help everyone can give. Then, I'm sure I will play better and will give the most can on the court."

The toughest opponents in Group J are likely to be the Lithuanians. Italy will face them for the first time in Group J on November 29 in the fifth window of the European qualifiers.

"I think we can compete with the opponents we have to face in this round," Abass said. "There is a nice atmosphere in the group and this is essential, especially when you have difficulties to overcome."

FIBA