Pascolo out for Italy, Baldi Rossi brought in as last minute replacement
TEL AVIV (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - Italy head coach Ettore Messina will have to alter his game plan for the FIBA EuroBasket 2017 as Davide Pascolo is injured and will be replaced by Filippo Baldi Rossi.
TEL AVIV (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - Italy head coach Ettore Messina has been forced to alter his game plan just a day before FIBA EuroBasket 2017 tips off as Davide Pascolo is out of the tournament and has been replaced by Filippo Baldi Rossi.
Pascolo injured his right knee in practice Tuesday evening in Tel Aviv and an MRI showed the Milano power forward would be unable to play in the tournament. Messina reacted by bringing in Trento big man Baldi Rossi, who has already arrived with the team for practice Wednesday evening in Tel Aviv.
Tegola alla vigilia di EuroBasket. Si infortuna Pascolo (trauma ginocchio destro). Al suo posto richiamato @filo_82 https://t.co/c9glnrKIBb pic.twitter.com/9xVJ4NRRjd
— Italbasket (@Italbasket) August 30, 2017
"I feel sorry for him," Messina said of Pascolo. "He has worked very hard to be here. Now we have to adapt again with Baldi Rossi, a different player compared to Pascolo. These situations are part of the game."
Just like Pascolo was hoping to do, Baldi Rossi will make his debut for the Italian senior national team in Tel Aviv. The 25-year-old played four summers in Italy's youth ranks, including winning silver at the FIBA U20 European Championship 2011.
Italy are in Group B and open play against group hosts Israel with later games against Ukraine, Lithuania, Germany and Georgia.
FIBA