GILAS Pilipinas will have to save its best for last in the group stage of the 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup as it tangles with Italy on August 29 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
After all, among the Filipino dribblers’ opponents in Group A, Italy is the highest-ranked at 10th in the world.
At least, Gilas won’t go in blind after Italy announced its extended 16-man World Cup roster on Wednesday, featuring one current NBA player.
Coached by Gianmarco Pozzecco, the Italians could also field a starting unit with two more standouts with past NBA experience as they try to improve on their 10th-place finish in the 2019 edition in China.
Check out what the Italy Starting 5 in 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup could look like:
PF – Giampaolo Ricci
Italy would've become even deadlier if Danilo Gallinari had been in the roster.
But the Italians still have a steady veteran at power forward in Ricci.
At 31, the 6-foot-8 Ricci is among their oldest players.
Suiting up for Italian league side Olimipia Milano, Ricci averaged 5.3 points, one three-pointer, 4.5 boards, 2.5 assists, and 0.5 block in 22.7 minutes over six games in the European qualifiers.
SG – Stefano Tonut
Tonut was one of Italy’s double-digit scorers in the qualifiers.
Undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft, the 29-year-old Tonut has been making a name in the local league as a teammate of Ricci at Olimipia Milano.
The 2021 Italian league MVP, the 6-foot-4 Tonut averaged 10.5 points, three assists, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 27.2 minutes over six games in the qualifiers.
PG – Nico Mannion
Mannion is the present and future of Italy's point guard position.
The 48th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the 22-year-old point guard benefited from his one season with the Golden State Warriors.
Now playing for Saski Baskonia in the Spanish League, the 6-foot-3 Mannion has been delivering on both ends for the national team.
One of only three players to play in all eight games in the qualifiers, Manniona averaged 15 points, 2.2 treys, 3.9 assists, two rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 22.1 minutes.
Italy can go for a more grizzled player in the point-guard rotation in Marco Spissu – or put them side-by-side in stretches.
C – Nicolo Melli
Melli is one of Italy’s most experienced players at 32.
Undrafted in the 2013 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-9 big man still managed to play three seasons in the NBA later on with the New Orleans Pelicans and the Dallas Mavericks from 2019 to 2021.
Now the captain of Italian league side Olimpia Milano, Melli normed 14.5 points on 66.7% shooting, five rebounds, two steals, one assist, and one block in 29.1 minutes over two games in the qualifiers.
SF – Simone Fontecchio
Italy’s offense will revolve around the Utah Jazz wingman, who is expected to face off against teammate Jordan Clarkson.
Undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-7 small forward finally made his NBA debut last season when he showed flashes of brilliance and averaged 6.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 14.7 minutes over 52 games with six starts with the Jazz.
The 27-year-old Fontecchio showed he can carry Italy’s offense when he put up 21 points on 51.6% shooting with 3.3 triples, five boards, 3.3 assists, one block, and 0.7 steal in 30 minutes over three games in the qualifiers.
Italy’s small-forward rotation isn’t lacking in veterans with Luigi Datome also in the depth chart.
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