ROME​ (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers may have a very special meaning in the Vitali family as Luca and Michele Vitali may both be playing later this month after the younger brother Michele was added to Italy's preliminary roster for the Group D games.

Italy coach Romeo Sacchetti nominated the 26-year-old Michele Vitali as part of his 16-player list for the second window. Now, the Germani Brescia shooting guard has a chance to play in Italy's games against Netherlands on February 23 at home and at Romania on February 26 as captain Pietro Aradori is doubtful to return from injury in time. The Virtus Bologna veteran suffered a first degree lesion on the left thigh flexors, which will likely keep him out 3-4 weeks. 

Andrea Crosariol has also been ruled out by back pains, resulting in Michele Ruzzier and Antonio Iannuzzi being brought into Sacchetti's 16-player squad. 

Italy head into the second window with a 2-0 record to top Group D, having knocked off Romania 75-70 at home in Turin and then beating Croatia 80-64 in Zagreb. 

One of the big stories for the February window in the Italian camp will be the Vitali family reunion in green, white and red.

"I PLAYED NATIONAL TEAM GAMES ALONGSIDE LUCA IN THE SUMMER OF 2014. I'M PLAYING WITH HIM IN BRESCIA TOO. WE HOPE WE WILL DO THE SAME AT THE WORLD CUP. IT WOULD BE A DREAM COME TRUE" VitaliVitali

"The World Cup Qualifiers offer big chances to rising players like me and I'm dreaming about the moment I will hear the national anthem, standing next to my brother Luca and before our home crowd, in a full arena," Michele Vitali said. "I wish to experience again what it feels like playing, and not watching on TV, an official national team game."

The games against Netherlands and Romania would not be the first time the Vitali brothers played together for their country. They teamed up for Italy in two games in the FIBA EuroBasket 2015 2nd Qualifying Round back in 2014. They also played alongside each other in two friendly games before the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Turin.

"I played national team games alongside Luca in the summer of 2014. I'm playing with him in Brescia, too. We hope we will do the same at the World Cup. It would be a dream come true," Michele Vitali said.

Michele, left, defending against his brother Luca

Sacchetti will not have an easy time replacing Aradori. But an immediate solution will likely be Amedeo Della Valle, who had an outstanding performance of 25 points in Italy's road win against Croatia in the November window. And Michele Vitali is expected to work his way into the rotation too.

The 6ft 5in (1.96m) wing man was selected after having an excellent first half of the Serie A season with Brescia - the unexpected leading team for 16 of the 19 rounds.

Michele Vitali had one of the top highlights of the Serie A season so far, scoring the go-ahead three-pointer in Avellino against Serie A leader Sidigas. With Brescia down by two points in the overtime's final seconds, he chose not to go for the tying layup. But after two dribbles, he went "all in", shooting for three.

"I had never seen anything like that before," he admitted. "But I didn't want to get blocked and I was so confident that I didn't ask myself 'What happens if I miss it?' As soon as the the ball left my hand, I felt my shot was going in. And eventually, it did."

"THE WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS OFFER BIG OPPORTUNITIES TO RISING PLAYERS LIKE ME AND I'M DREAMING ABOUT THE MOMENT I WILL HEAR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, STANDING NEXT TO MY BROTHER LUCA AND BEFORE OUR HOME CROWD, IN A FULL ARENA" VitaliVitali

Having put his shooting skills and defensive impact on full display, he is ready to bring his qualities to the Azzurri squad. He missed a chance to fight for a spot on the team for FIBA EuroBasket 2017 as he had a left hand injury.

"My biggest moment with the Azzurri shirt was in 2011, with the silver medal at the FIBA U20 European Championship in Bilbao," said Vitali, who averaged 5.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in the youth competition seven years ago. "The current Serie A campaign gave me confidence and made me improve. Now I know I could have my chance with Italy."

That moment could be closer than expected for Vitali, as the chance could come in a few days in Treviso, where coach Sacchetti is bringing his team together with the goal of taking another step towards China 2019.

FIBA