ITALY overcame a flat start to beat Angola, 81-67, on Friday in the opening game of the 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup at the Philippine Arena.
Simone Fontecchio had 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field while Stefano Tonut added 18 points for Italy, who struggled to shake off the unheralded Angolans for three quarters.
While Gilas coaches and players watched from courtside, Italy went off to a shaky start in the Group A match and fell behind 9-2, as Angola stayed close until the Azzurri pulled away in the fourth quarter.
Giampaolo Ricci added 12 points for Italy, which will play the Philippines on August 29 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Angola, on the other hand, will look to bounce back when it goes up against Gilas Pilipinas on August 27.
Childe Dundao had 19 points, while Bruno Fernando had 13 points for Angola in the loss.
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