Fuente: © FIBA (Federación Internacional de Basket)
http://www.fiba.org/

FIBA: ITA - Galanda: no surprise Italy travel to Japan

/noticias.info/ MILAN (FIBA World Championship 2006) - Italy captain Giacomo GALANDA admitted FIBA's decision to award the Azzurri one of four wild cards into next year's FIBA World Championship came as no surprise.

FIBA's Central Board is meeting in Rome this weekend and on Saturday morning decided to give Italy, Serbia & Montenegro, Turkey and Puerto Rico the wild cards into next year's 24-team event in Japan.

Galanda was a member of the Italian teams that won bronze at EuroBasket 2003 and silver at the Olympics last summer.

Italy have a huge tradition in the sport. They captured gold at EuroBasket 1999, and played in the EuroBasket final two years before that.

It was recent results, Galanda feels, that mattered most.

"I am very happy although we did expect this decision because of what this national team has achieved the past three years," he said to PA Sport.

"We were unfortunate in the European Championships, but no one can deny that we gave everything on the court."

Italy were beaten by an excellent Croatian team in the elimination round. Only the top six sides at the EuroBasket qualified for the FIBA World Championship.

"I am certain that the national team will go to the World Championship, defending Italy at the highest level," said Galanda, who admits there is tough competition to make Carlo Recalcati's national side and that his place is far from secure.

Galanda moved to Armani Jeans Milano in the summer and they have struggled so far in Lega A and the Euroleague.

"A World Championship has great prestige and it's obvious that I want to be there," he said.

"But it all depends on how this season goes. I hope to make the team, but if not, I will definitely be pulling for Italy."

Galanda does expect some of Italy's rising stars to make it into the team.

Stefano Mancinelli played in Serbia & Montenegro in the summer, and his Climamio Bologna team-mate Marco Belinelli stands an excellent chance of travelling to the Far East with Italy.

Other youngsters like Andrea Bargnani of Benetton Treviso stand a good chance of making the team.

"There is going to be a change in generation and I think that we have the players to do well," Galanda said.

From Cindy Garcia-Bennett, PA Sport
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