A Gift from Bologna: Italy Downs Lithuania, Clearing Serbia's Path to the World Cup!

This Italian triumph drastically alters the group standings in Serbia's favor. Lithuania now sits at a 3-3 record and will enter the second phase with one less win than Serbia, provided Serbia lives up to its favorite status tomorrow and defeats Bosnia and Herzegovina in Belgrade. With three teams from the group securing a spot at the FIBA World Cup, it's crucial for our team to finish ahead of at least one of the three major rivals – Italy, Turkey, or Lithuania. Following this loss, the Lithuanians are currently the furthest from qualification.

The game itself in Bologna was a true spectacle, with Italy demonstrating incredible resilience. The home team trailed by 11 points early on, and the real drama unfolded in the final quarter when Lithuania held a commanding 13-point lead. Yet, in a 'believe it or not' moment, the Italians managed to claw their way back, forcing a nail-biting finish that descended into complete chaos. Shargiunas's missed three-pointer in the dying seconds sealed the victory for the hosts.

Nico Mannion was the absolute hero for Italy, scoring 27 points, including a crucial equalizer and a go-ahead three-pointer in the final minute. He received strong support from Matteo Spagnolo, who added 14 points, and Stefano Tonut with 10 points. On the other side, even Azulias Tubelis's stellar performance of 25 points wasn't enough for the Lithuanians. Shargiunas finished the game with 14 points, and Jakučionis with 10.