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The FIBA 2019 World Cup is finally here and the first day of action provided plenty of intriguing matchups. Among them was the Group D clash between the Philippines and Italy. The Philippines entered the tournament with the belief that they could spring a surprise or two, while the Italians came into the game having lost six of their last seven fixtures.
However, Italy managed to hit form at the right moment and came away with an easy 108-62 over the Philippines. While the Italians were expected to win the game, the margin of victory came as somewhat of a surprise, and the win puts the nation in a strong position moving forward. The Group D clash also provided plenty of insight into both teams, and here we will look at 3 Talking Points from Philippines vs Italy.
#3 Reality Check for the Philippines
The Philippines entered the tournament hoping that they could pull off a huge shock and advance to the second round. However, after being drawn in the same group as the Serbians, it was apparent that a win over the Italians was vital.
Nevertheless, Gilas Pilipinas were handed a reality check that demonstrated just how far they remain behind Europe's elite teams. The Italians' dominance was so significant that the Philippines trailed by 29 points after just one quarter. By halftime, the gap had swelled to 38 as Gilas Pilipinas struggled to compete with Italy's superior fitness levels and ability to guard multiple positions.
Gilas Pilipinas performed better after the halftime break, although the Italians had long taken their foot off the pedal. Ultimately, this defeat was probably enough to eliminate the Philippines and the team could be set for another mauling against Serbia.
#2 Perimeter shooting plays a crucial role
Over the past half a decade the NBA has fully embraced the three, and the opening day of the World Cup hinted that the International game is not far behind. However, the importance of shot selection and quality shooters was also on show during the Philippines' defeat to Italy.
The Philippines started the game 0-7 from beyond the arc as the team struggled to find open looks. Gilas Pilipinas finally connected from downtown in the second period but eventually finished the game shooting just 3-for-23 from three-point range.
Meanwhile, the Italians found space on the perimeter and connected with almost 50% of their attempts from three. The Azzurri finished shooting 15-for-31 from deep and had a trio of the roster connect with at least three attempts from downtown.
#1 The Italians could be the dark horses of the World Cup
Italy traveled to China in turmoil. The team had won just once in the buildup to the tournament and a talented roster was failing to click on the court. However, everything fell into place against the Philippines, and the Italians now appear to be among the most dangerous teams at the World Cup.
The Italians boast a strong squad, filled with talent from both America and Europe, and its biggest stars were impressive during the routine win. The NBA pairing of Danilo Gallinari and Marco Belinelli dominated the tempo, while 25-year-old Amedeo Della Valle made an enormous impact during his limited time on the court.
Ultimately, bigger tests lie ahead for the Italians, although if the win over the Philippines is anything to go on, the Azzuri could be the dark horses of the tournament.
