Simone Fontecchio may have initiated and concluded Italy’s remarkable comeback against Serbia, but it was the veteran Gigi Datome who sustained it.
Fontecchio had nothing but praise for his team captain after Datome played a pivotal role in the Azzurri’s rally from a 16-point deficit, resulting in a 78-76 victory over the Eagles in the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 on Friday night.
“Gigi [Datome] is simply a legend,” said Fontecchio during the post-match press conference.
With Italy trailing 60-44 and only 3:31 left in the third quarter, the standout from the Utah Jazz embarked on a personal 7-0 run, single-handedly narrowing the gap to just nine points, 60-51.
Nikola Jovic halted Serbia’s slide with two free throws, but Datome had a few tricks up his sleeve, scoring 10 consecutive points to bring the Italians within one point, 62-61, as they entered the final quarter.
“What he did today, I believe, is just the cherry on top of his career, you know? It was something unbelievable. He showed us the way, even down by 16, he kept playing at [age 35], and it was truly amazing—leading by example,” said Fontecchio, who had 30 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
“He’s our captain, our leader, the best teammate you could imagine. That really motivated us to find the last ounce of energy in our bodies to complete the comeback,” he added.
For his part, Datome expressed his relief at breaking out of his slump and helping Italy secure a crucial win over powerhouse Serbia in the Round of 16.
“Finally! I was struggling, but I kept believing in myself, and most importantly, my team and my coach believed in me. I kept shooting, and finally today, I saw it a couple of times,” said the former Boston Celtics forward, who finished with 10 points.
The former Euroleague champion also gave credit to Fontecchio, who has been nothing short of spectacular in Italy’s World Cup journey.
“There are 12 faces. Of course, Simone is a key player, and he had an incredible game tonight. He’s a big player who rises to the occasion, makes big plays. Fantastic—it’s not the first time. I know Simone well, and we’re glad he’s on our team,” said Datome.
