Italy's Under-20 Basketball Team Wins European Championship, Losing Lithuania 83-66

Fip President Petrucci: "Congratulations to coach Rossi and all the staff for an extraordinary result that has been missing since 2013"

The Italian Under-20 basketball team won the European Championships in their category, beating Lithuania 83-66 in the final in Heraklion, on the island of Crete, Greece.

Italy thus wins its first gold medal after the one in 2013 and the one in 1992 (though back then the category was Under-22). A clear, deserved, hard-fought victory, achieved by playing a tournament of substance, quality, and sacrifice. A triumph achieved by playing the final with eight players due to the four injuries that decimated the team upon arrival in Crete. Francesco Ferrari (26 points tonight) was voted MVP of the European Championship and included in the tournament's all-time best starting five.

“This is a team that has made us fall in love along the way and overcoming limitations and bad luck,” said FIP President Giovanni Petrucci. “Congratulations to coach Rossi and the entire staff for an extraordinary result that hasn't been achieved since 2013. Minister Abodi also called me to congratulate these guys.”

MVP Francesco Ferrari: “We're incredibly proud of this result. From the start of the camp in Domegge, our goal was to reach the top eight in Europe and then compete with everyone there. We struggled against Israel, but we knew we could achieve something truly special, and we did it. Today we gave it our all, knowing it was our last Under-20 experience. I repeat: incredibly proud, and Forza Italia!”