ITA - Gentile, Melli helping Italy forget no-shows

KOPER (EuroBasket/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - It's hard to look at the Italy roster at EuroBasket 2013 and not think about which stars are missing from the team. But youngsters Alessandro Gentile and Nicolo Melli are making Azzurri fans forget about the absentees in Slovenia.

"We are always confident in ourselves. We are not thinking about who is not here. We are just working hard together," said Gentile, who is Italy's third leading scorer, averaging 12.3 points in just 19 minutes a game off the bench.

Melli has also been a huge help to coach Simone Pianigiani’s team with 7.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in just 17 minutes per game.

"We have a lot of enthusiasm. We are happy to be here. And happy about what we are doing right now," said Melli.

"Nobody has any pressure, but we have to stay like this the whole tournament."

Italy have started well with three straight wins in Group D in Koper, beating Russia, Turkey and Finland.

The Azzurri are doing this without NBA players Andrea Bargnani and Danilo Gallinari as well as Euroleague guard Daniel Hackett among many more stars. But 20-year-old Gentile and 22-year-old Melli represent a big part of the future of Italian basketball.

"They are two very good players. They are young and trying really hard and giving everything in practice. I am very happy for them because they are playing really well," said Greece forward Antonis Fotsis about Gentile and Melli, his teammates at Italian club Milano last season.

"I hope they will continue and become very good players down the road.

"They are very talented, no doubt. They are hard workers and without hard work, you can't do anything."

Gentile and Melli have already given Italy fans a bit of glory, teaming up to lead the national side to the silver medal at the 2011 U20 European Championship.

"We played together on the junior national team as well," Gentile recalled.

"Of course when you play with a guy you know very well it's easier."

Both have really showed flashes of the reason they are considered future stalwarts of the national team.

The son of former Italian star guard Nando Gentile, the forward Alessandro torched Turkey for 20 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter.

"I know he has a lot of confidence. Some say he's a macho player. But people forget he's only 20," said Italian captain Luigi Datome about Gentile.

"He has improved his game a lot but he still plays like a veteran player. He comes off the bench every time but he's coachable."

Melli also had a superb game against Turkey with 14 points and 10 rebounds. But the most impressive thing about his performance in Slovenia thus far has been the 2.05m power forward's ability to hold his own against the centers of other teams.

"It could be a problem for him but he is making it become an opportunity for him. He's showing a great energy and effort," explained Datome.

"Sometimes he's even dominating under the boards against players much bigger than him. He is one of the guys who is taking the advantage of playing at EuroBasket in the best way."

If this Italian run continues, it will be hard to forget that Gentile and Melli were on this team - as opposed to the players who were missing.

FIBA