Early signs good as Italy increase the workload ahead of Turin OQT

TRENTO (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - Italy are in a race against time to be ready for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Turin, so their resounding victories at the Trentino Cup are encouraging signs for coach Ettore Messina and fans of the Azzurri.

Italy romped to a 78-48 triumph over the Czech Republic and followed that up with an 87-58 rout of China. Now the Italians are in Bologna for another phase of training and games.

This coming Saturday, the Italians will go up against the Philippines and on Sunday, they will face either Canada or China.

The performances in Trento have put everyone in a good mood. There were plenty of highlight-reel plays by the Italians.

.@PeppePoeta la spiega! 😎 pic.twitter.com/BiANxRoYpA
— Italbasket (@Italbasket) June 17, 2016

Tandem Beli-Cervi. E l'Italia va! 🚴🏻 #Azzurridentro pic.twitter.com/WXU20kTz4U
— Italbasket (@Italbasket) June 18, 2016

"The team trains and plays with full dedication and intensity," Messina said after the win over the Czechs, a team getting ready for the OQT in Belgrade. "They are all available, from the youngest to veterans, who willingly accept to be coached. There are still many details [to work on] but the direction is the right one."

After the victory over China, who have already qualified for the Olympics by winning last year's FIBA Asia Championship, Messina was even more upbeat.

"Today, I deeply appreciate two things that give me confidence for the near future," he said. "In times of difficulty, we managed to get out of trouble with two dribbles or less and really moving the ball.

"When the ball moves fast, things work. When the ball stops, no team can go far. I'm also happy to have encountered difficulties. We could have gotten nervous but instead we had patience and self-control, two virtues that will serve as the bread."

Marco Belinelli will be one of the keys for Italy when they go up against Tunisia and Croatia in Group B of the OQT, and potentially Group A sides Greece, Iran and Mexico in a Semi-Final or the Final. Italy will be hoping that he shows the same kind of form he had last year against Spain at the EuroBasket in Germany.