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

ITA - Italy celebrate FIBA World Championship wild card

/noticias.info/ ROME (FIBA World Championship 2006) - Italian basketball is celebrating after being awarded a wild card into next year's FIBA World Championship in Japan.

The Azzurri have been one of the surprise packages the past few years by winning a bronze medal at EuroBasket 2003 and then a silver medal at the Olympics.

Carlo Recalcati's team was knocked out of the EuroBasket this summer by Croatia in the elimination round and there were fears in Italy the Azzurri may be passed over with FIBA awarding four wild cards.

However, the Italians, along with two-time defending champions Serbia & Montenegro, 2010 World Championship hosts Turkey and FIBA Americas representatives Puerto Rico were all given entry into next year's big event.

Italian Basketball Federation president Fausto Maifredi said in statement on FIP.it: "It is a great satisfaction, not only personally but also for Italy and for Italian basketball.

"Certainly, the technical results achieved at the Athens Olympics has been crucial but we have also been able to convince FIBA that we have all the right criteria to participate in the World Championship in Japan."

From Cindy Garcia-Bennett, PA Sport, Rome
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