Italy only surrendered in the final to a strong Lithuania, securing an excellent second place.
The National Military team, with the majority of its members coming from the Air Force, was formed in a short time thanks to the wise guidance provided by the technicians of the Vigna di Valle Sports Centre. However, the technical direction of the team has been entrusted to the capable hands of a civilian coach, Andrea Paccariè, who has been following the ’National team with the stars“ for several years.
The Italian delegation, led by the Commander of the Air Force Historical and Sports Centre in Vigna di Valle, Colonel Alessandro Gresta, was welcomed by the Italian Military Representative at SHAPE, General Giuseppe Antonio Spinelli, who expressed the enthusiasm and closeness of the entire Italian community to the team, a bearer of those sound human and sporting values typical of “made in Italy”.
The Azzurri's first commitment is immediately a do-or-die match against the USA, one of the historically strongest nations on the world basketball scene.
The match is very tight but in the end the Azzurri win with a surprising score of 57-52 and the dream of the final becomes clearer immediately. In the second and third matches of the group, against Kazakhstan and Belgium, the Azzurri, carried by enthusiasm and supported by an increasingly warm and numerous crowd, manage their energy and, with a considerably superior technical level, defeat their two opponents respectively 88 to 49 and 82 to 50, flying undefeated to the final against the winners of the other group, the strong Lithuania.
On the day of the final, the SHAPE sports hall is packed, the stands are filled to capacity, and the Italian military national team challenges the strong Lithuania, the 2012 title holders, to bring back a victory to Italy that has been missing for several years.
But unfortunately, the feat doesn't happen and Italy is beaten 86 to 61.
Italy, with its stars, remains a beautiful silver, which even improves on the third place obtained in 2012, confirming Italy as one of the most in-form teams.
But if the coveted gold didn't materialise on the field, it's from the stands that we achieve the most beautiful victory: the warmth with which the Italian community at SHAPE has embraced the team is true Italian pride.
On the sidelines of the event, the team was hosted by the Italian primary school at SHAPE, who wanted to pay tribute to the Azzurri champions. The delegation, which was welcomed with great warmth and enthusiasm by the children, teachers, and Italian families, spent a pleasant morning with the young pupils, who were the first and most tireless supporters throughout the entire event.
