Italy (ITA)
02/09/2015
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Italy take dream roster to EuroBasket 2015

ROME (EuroBasket 2015) - Italy have realised a four-year long dream of their fans as head coach Simone Pianigiani on Tuesday night announced a 12-man EuroBasket roster which finally includes all the nation's big stars.

Danilo Gallinari of the Denver Nuggets, Brooklyn Nets forward/center Andrea Bargnani and Marco Belinelli of the Sacramento Kings headline the star-studded EuroBasket 2015 Italian team which departs for Berlin on Wednesday.

Gallinari and Bargani had missed out on EuroBasket 2013, with the charismatic forward having to go through a long and arduous rehabilitation process for a torn ACL injury which posed a serious threat to his career.

The Nuggets star returned to action during this past NBA season, featured in 59 regular season games and averaged 12.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

Belinelli helped Italy reach the Quarter-Finals of the big tournament in Slovenia in September 2013 before going on to conquer the NBA title with the San Antonio Spurs and the three-point contest at the All-Star Game later that same season.

Luigi Datome, who returned to Europe and joined Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahce Ulker following a two-year spell in the NBA, will be the captain of the national team at the EuroBasket.

Alessandro Gentile had a break-out tournament at EuroBasket 2013 and has turned since into one of the top versatile guard/forwards in Europe, becoming the captain of storied Italian club Olimpia Milano.

Datome and Gentile were Italy's top scorers in last summer's 2nd Qualification Round as they averaged 16.3 and 16 points, respectively, while they combined for 9.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists per contest.

The trusted duo of Andrea Cinciarini, who is poised to suit up in his third EuroBasket tournament in a row, and Daniel Hackett, who returned to the national team mix this summer, will occupy the point guard spot.

All-round guard Pietro Aradori is set to take part at his second consecutive EuroBasket and provides another excellent option on the perimeter off the bench.

Italy will employ once again a style of play which aims to stretch the floor and therefore the only out-and-out center on the roster is Marco Cusin, with up-and-coming power forward Nicolo Melli also playing at the '5' spot.

Pianigani had used the exact same solution in the frontcourt at EuroBasket 2013, the first tournament of his tenure, but this year he can also count on the added factor of Bargnani's contribution.

Meanwhile 23-year-old forward Achille Polonara and 22-year-old guard Amedeo Della Valle, who was voted MVP of the U20 European Championship after helping Italy conquer gold, will get their first chance to step out in a major tournament with the senior national team.

Italy play their EuroBasket 2015 opener against Turkey on Saturday and will then face Iceland, Spain, Germany and finally Serbia in their bid to advance from Group B.

Italy final roster for EuroBasket 2015: Pietro Aradori, Andrea Bargnani, Marco Belinelli, Andrea Cinciarini, Marco Cusin, Luigi Datome, Amedeo Della Valle, Danilo Gallinari, Alessandro Gentile, Nicolò Melli, Daniel Hackett, Achille Polonara.

Go to eurobasket2015.org for complete coverage of EuroBasket 2015.

FIBA