MANILA (Philippines) - Gianmarco Pozzecco knows about the history of Italian basketball and the current head coach believes his team reaching the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Quarter-Finals is the greatest achievement in the country's hoops history.

Italy defeated Puerto Rico 73-57 in the final game of the Second Round to lock up a spot in the World Cup top eight for the first time in 25 years.

"Not even my mom believed we could do this," Pozzecco admitted after his team secured Italy’s first Quarter-Finals appearance since 1998. "From the first day I told my players to start to dream. Then we can achieve the best. And they did it."

The Italians were not highly regarded coming into the summer as title contenders. They raised some eyebrows in the preparation games though with seven straight wins.

They opened the World Cup with a win over Angola but lost to Dominican Republic before beating Philippines. Italy then continued their recent trend of big victories over Serbia before finishing the job against Puerto Rico. Next up will be United States in the Quarter-Finals.

But first it's time to enjoy the moment a bit.

"We want to just enjoy the moment because in the last 25 years it's never happened. We will enjoy this moment but we will keep dreaming," said forward Giampaolo Ricci, who was named TCL Player of the Game against Puerto Rico with 15 points.

"It's a big achievement, so we have a day to enjoy it. And then we will refocus and get ready for the next game," said Nicolo Melli.

Gianmarco Pozzecco playing at the 1998 World Cup

Pozzecco put his team's performance into historical perspective, calling it the country's best achievement in national team history. And the playcaller played on Italy's last World Cup team to reach the Quarter-Finals in 1998 and also helped the team win the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics.

"There is no comparing 1998 and now. It was totally different. I have so much respect for all my teammates who played for me or I played with them. And a coach Bogdan Tanjevic who is one of the best people I have ever met. But there is nothing to compare," said Pozzecco, who was 27 years old at the 1998 World Cup. "What these guys did is totally different. Every country has gotten better. You cannot relax against any team."

"What they did tonight you cannot compare with any national team that Italy has had in history. And I was part of the team that played 2004 in Athens and we won the silver medal. What they did until today … we didn't do that. Because it was totally different basketball. Okay, we achieved great results and everybody remembers us for that in Italy. But they did something more."

Something that the country has never seen. And maybe there is more to come.

FIBA