PESARO – The Azzurri basketball team lost 64-76 in their big match against Serbia, which moves them above Italy in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers Group J standings. Coach Banchi's team played on equal terms against Jokic and his teammates, but in the final five minutes, Serbia's physicality prevailed, widening the lead to a final 12-point lead. Nico Mannion (23 points, 10-of-10 free throws) was the Azzurri's top scorer. Simone Fontecchio also scored in double figures with 15 points.
The fifth qualifying window is in November, in which Italy (5 wins and 3 losses) now sits third behind Turkey (who already qualified for the World Cup thanks to their eighth win, coming in Iceland 73-110) and Serbia (6-2), and ahead of Lithuania, Bosnia, and Iceland. Italy will face Turkey and coach Alimpijevic's team again.
Italy-Serbia 64-76 (19-20, 12-20, 23-17, 10-19)
Italy: Mannion* 23 (2/6, 3/5), Tonut 2 (1/1), Melli* 2 (1/2, 0/3), Fontecchio 15 (0/2, 3/8), Thompson 15 (0/2, 3/8), Tessitori ne, Ricci 4 (2/2, 0/2), Spagnolo, Niang* 8 (2/8, 0/1), Baldasso ne, Akele*, Emejuru 5 (2/4). All: Banchi
Serbia: Dangubic 4 (0/1 from three), Jovic* 5 (2/2), Momirov ne, Dobric* 9 (3/5, 0/5), Jokic* 8 (1/2, 0/2), Lakic, Guduric* 19 (4/7, 2/6), Tanaskovic 5 (1/1, 0/1), Davidovac ne, Avramovic* 20 (4/7, 4/13), Milutinov 3 (0/1), Novak 3 (1/1 from three). All: Alimpijevic
Two-pointers Italy 10/27, Ser 15/25; Three-pointers Italy 7/22, Ser 7/29; Free throws Italy 23/26, Ser 25/32. Rebounds Italy 27 (Melli 7), Ser 40 (Jokic 8). Assists Italy 17 (Mannion 4), Ser 13 (Guduric 4). 5 fouls called: Akele, Jovic
