ITA - Italians fall to Croatia in Athens

ATHENS (FIBA World Championship) - Italy's youngsters lost a third consecutive game at the Acropolis Tournament on Wednesday when slipping up to Croatia.

Mario Kasun had 18 points and Zoran Planinic 17 as the Croatians, who suffered a narrow defeat to France on Tuesday, won 73-69.

Italy, who are in Group D of the FIBA World Championship with Team USA, China, Slovenia, Puerto Rico and Slovenia, played without guard Marco Belinelli but his Climamio Bologna team-mate, Stefano Mancinelli, did take on a Croatian side that is led by their club coach Jasmin Repesa who is expected to soon be unveiled as Lottomatica Roma's new chief any day now.

The Azzurri fell behind 24-7 by the end of the first quarter but closed to within 36-31 by half-time. At the end of the third quarter, Carlo Recalcati's side had a 55-50 advantage.

Croatia, who will play Latvia, Denmark and Estonia in EuroBasket qualifying games this summer, overcame that deficit to post the victory.

Fabio Di Bella had 13 points and Marco Mordente 12 to pace the Italians, who lost to Croatia in last year's elimination round at the EuroBasket in Belgrade.

Though Croatia went on to the quarter-finals and lost to Spain in overtime, it was Italy - bronze medalists at EuroBasket 2003 and silver-medal winners at the Olympics, who received one of four wild cards for the FIBA World Championship.

Compared to recent campaigns, a young Italian side will travel to Japan as veterans like Massimo Bulleri, Roberto Chiacig and Giacomo Galanda are given the summer to rest.

By PA Sport
Exclusively for FIBA