ROME (Italy) - Italy have announced a 16-man squad it hopes will clinch a spot in the FIBA Basketball World Cup during the final window of the European Qualifiers when they host Hungary and play at Lithuania.

Coach Meo Sacchetti will have numerous veterans at his disposal, and players like Awudu Abass that have shone for the Azzurri and helped the team win 7 of 10 games in the first five windows.

Italy will square off against Hungary in Varese on February 22 and then face Lithuania in Klaipeda on February 25.

Amedeo Della Valle, Italy's leading scorer in the European Qualifiers at 18.1 points per game, Jeff Brooks and Andrea Cinciarini will have a game on February 21 with their club side, Olimpia Milano, before joining up with the national team in Varese.

Christian Burns, Leonardo Candi, Riccardo Cervi, Simone Fontecchio, Pierpaolo Marini, Andrea Pecchia and Achille Polonara are on standby.

Italy are within touching distance of a spot in the World Cup. They can secure a place with a win in either of the two games. Even so, they could also qualify in this summer's 32-team World Cup with a couple of defeats as long as they either win a tie-breaker against Hungary, or the Hungarians lose to Croatia.

They could also qualify with a three way tie with Hungary and Poland at 19 points each.

FIBA