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    Italy finds rhythm in second half to torch Puerto Rico

    Italy turns to hot shooting to erase early 17-point deficit
    Jul 2, 2021
    Achille Polonara battles for a rebound against the Puerto Ricans.
    PHOTO: Fiba.basketball

    ITALY found its stroke from deep in the second half as it held off Puerto Rico, 90-83, in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade Friday (Manila time) at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Serbia.

    Achille Polonara fired 21 points on 4-of-9 clip from beyond the arc, alongside 10 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks, while Simone Fontecchio also scored 21 points on 3-of-6 shooting from deep, to go with six boards and two dimes as the Azurri buried nine of their 14 treys in the second half.

    Simone Fontecchio Italy vs Puerto Rico

    Italy vs Puerto Rico

    Golden State Warriors guard Nico Mannion also buried three of his five triples to finish with 21 points, six assists, and three rebounds as Italy fought back from an early 17-point deficit, 42-25, in the second period.

    But tides turned in the third period as the Italians got to their rhythm and outscored Puerto Rico, 27 to 14 in the frame to grab the 64-58 lead entering the payoff period.

    The Puerto Ricans kept themselves in step, with George Conditt's putback cutting the lead down to just four, 81-77, with 1:51 left, but Polonara doused that run with a big three as Fontecchio and Mannion put the finishing touches in the victory.

    Italy finished with a 14-of-37 shooting from deep as it topped Group B.

    Both teams gained automatic byes to the next phase after Senegal pulled out of the six-team tourney due to positive COVID-19 cases in its training camp in Germany.

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    Italy will now face the winner of the game between Gilas Pilipinas and Dominican Republic in the crossover semifinals.

    Meanwhile, Puerto Rico will turn its attention to hosts and Group A winner Serbia as the Belgrade OQT semis begin on late Saturday night.

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      Gian Clavell carried Puerto Rico with 24 points on 4-of-9 shooting from threes, on top of his four rebounds, but made only one of his three crucial freebies with 39.4 ticks left which could have kept things close in the clutch.

      Gary Browne also had a near-triple-double with 16 points, 16 assists, nine boards, and five steals to make up for his seven turnovers, as Emmanuel Andujar had 11 points and four rebounds in the loss.

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      Achille Polonara battles for a rebound against the Puerto Ricans.
      PHOTO: Fiba.basketball
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