Italy NT: The Road to World Cup

[Italian Pride]

Luca Banchi was officially named the new head coach today, with the mission of ushering in a new era.

I think the next qualifiers round will be very though for us , but in have good vibes about our young players

I hope to see new players in the new Olympic cycle

Our core must be to have Pajola,Mannion,Spagnolo, Sarr, Niang,Procida,Fontecchio,Diouf plus sono veterans like melli or tonut in the qualication round

to add to which the big Man Leonardo Totè,Luigi Suigo,Leonardo Okeke,Grant Basile, young and talented forward like mvp of last european fiba under 20 Francesco ferrari, or 18yrs olf Diego Garavaglia that will play eurocup this year with Ulm

i jooe to see donte di vincenzo next year with NT, but the player could be a crack is Niamf's Brother that will play with Trento this year in eurocup. He was born in 2008, only 17yrs oltre but Great performance, already in the last italian supercup

https://twitter.com/x/status/1972010752795181074

How do you think about our future NT ?

@Toxicity @Big Lebowski my Man @Toruko and @Straight forward , and so on...?

 

[Toruko]

I like the Italian NT but I think that you miss important pieces and the right coach to become successful.

 

[Straight forward]

I would say that current core with such guys as Mannion, Spagnolo, Procida, Pajola, those of the most competitive age rn, is a bit underwhelming for highest tier goals. On other hand, Di Vincenzo alone could change tons of things instantly. And he would, but I doubt he will show up.

I think Italy has bright pieces next as Sarr, Niang, Ferrari and others, like really high upside players who will need few years to enter competitive stage. Italy had a nice Youth summer and have enough talent for the future. I'm not so into all prospects to have full picture, but it will be interesting to follow how everything pan out. Besides, Italy always has that ability to make some noise even against stronger teams on the paper.

 

[Toxicity]

We'll see... on paper we have a young and talented team in the making, but there are a lot of variables that could change the destiny of Italy NT.

Banchi is the right coach now, to achieve something immediately (WC qualification) but in the long run i'd like a young coach who plays a modern game of basketball (like Galbiati or Poeta).

The brother of Saliou Niang is a great and promising prospect but still has not the italian passport so we have to speed down on him... probably he'll get it for his 18 birthday hopefully.

 

[Italian Pride]

We'll see... on paper we have a young and talented team in the making, but there are a lot of variables that could change the destiny of Italy NT.

Banchi is the right coach now, to achieve something immediately (WC qualification) but in the long run i'd like a young coach who plays a modern game of basketball (like Galbiati or Poeta).

The brother of Saliou Niang is a great and promising prospect but still has not the italian passport so we have to speed down on him... probably he'll get it for his 18 birthday hopefully.

Check in time could get the Passport in 2027, just in time for the fiba world cup

In ypur opinion we'll see some new player like okeke,lever,totè,ferrari,garavaglia,suigo,...?

 

[Toruko]

T

Thread 'Road to FIBA WC 2027 European qualifiers group C/D discussion thread'

Oct 1, 2025

Dear friends since there is no place for discussion I thought it would be a good idea to create a play ground for Turks, Lithuanians, Serbs and Italians. Thank you.

• Toruko
• Replies: 5
• Forum: 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup

 

[Toxicity]

Check in time could get the Passport in 2027, just in time for the fiba world cup

In ypur opinion we'll see some new player like okeke,lever,totè,ferrari,garavaglia,suigo,...?

I don't know on Cheick, we will see... but he has to improve a LOT before talking about senior NT.

Regarding the names you mentioned, i hope to see finally Leonardo Totè in the italian team... Okeke also could be useful as athletic big man under the basket while Ferrari has to play in the LBA, before put him in the roster. Garavaglia i think will be a national before Suigo because he's already productive and plays like a veteran... while Suigo has some years ahead him to become consistent (the C spot is the more difficult in basketball).

I expect some new LBA names like Calzavara of Udine as well...

 

[Italian Pride]

I don't know on Cheick, we will see... but he has to improve a LOT before talking about senior NT.

Regarding the names you mentioned, i hope to see finally Leonardo Totè in the italian team... Okeke also could be useful as athletic big man under the basket while Ferrari has to play in the LBA, before put him in the roster. Garavaglia i think will be a national before Suigo because he's already productive and plays like a veteran... while Suigo has some years ahead him to become consistent (the C spot is the more difficult in basketball).

I expect some new LBA names like Calzavara of Udine as well...

I don't know Calzavara

What type of player is he? Could become interesting for Playmaker spot of NT?

 

[Toxicity]

I don't know Calzavara

What type of player is he? Could become interesting for Playmaker spot of NT?

Very interesting... he may look like a poor men's Shved... atletic and tall PG... i think he's the perfect LBA type player. And he could be useful even in NT if he can adapt to stronger opponents...

 

[Italian Pride]

@Toruko @Straight forward No Mannion

Only Procida

Our stars will be Procida, Della Valle and Tonut

PG Casarin (197)-Candi(192)-Librizzi(182)-Baldasso (192)
SG Tonut(194)-Della Valle(195)-Rossato(191)-Petrucelli(193)
SF Procida(201)-Sasha Grant (201)- Garavaglia(201)
PF Akele(202)-Ferrari(205)-Polonara(205)
C Tessitori(208)-Vincini(207)-Suigo(220)

Achille i <3 you

How do you think?

There are many young players: 7 of 16 are under 23(Procida,Librizzi,Grant born 02, Casarin 03, Ferrari 05, Garavaglia and Suigo 07)

 

[Toruko]

Dunno, this version is by far not as impressive as with the other guys.

 

[Straight forward]

Italian

@Toruko @Straight forward No Mannion

Only Procida

Our stars will be Procida, Della Valle and Tonut

PG Casarin (197)-Candi(192)-Librizzi(182)-Baldasso (192)
SG Tonut(194)-Della Valle(195)-Rossato(191)-Petrucelli(193)
SF Procida(201)-Sasha Grant (201)- Garavaglia(201)
PF Akele(202)-Ferrari(205)-Polonara(205)
C Tessitori(208)-Vincini(207)-Suigo(220)

Achille i <3 you

How do you think?

There are many young players: 7 of 16 are under 23(Procida,Librizzi,Grant born 02, Casarin 03, Ferrari 05, Garavaglia and Suigo 07)

Italian Pride, I think we will pound you inside. Tessitori is 97kg dude, compared that with Gudaitis 115kg. Blazevic is also huge, 114kg. I think Lithuania will be tougher, bigger, more physical. If we lose this at home, it will come as surprise to me.

 

[Italian Pride]

Tes

Italian

Italian Pride, I think we will pound you inside. Tessitori is 97kg dude, compared that with Gudaitis 115kg. Blazevic is also huge, 114kg. I think Lithuania will be tougher, bigger, more physical. If we lose this at home, it will come as surprise to me.

Tessitori is almost 110 kg, but he is a Black hole on difensive side

I think our starting 5 could be something like this

Leo Candi-Tonut-Procida-Akele-Tessitori

6th man Della Valle from the bench, offensive leader of second unit

Casarin-Della Valle-Garavaglia-Ferrari-Vincini

2nd unit

I can't imagine if Suigo can play basketball at this level, actually

Sure is a very big prospect, he can hit 3 and he is a Great presence on difensive side with his lenght(220m tall)

 

[Italian Pride]

Akele won't join NT

Banchi to replace him , have named 19 years old Elisee Assui, former under20 european champion with Francesco ferrari

@Toruko with this roster we'll lose even against Iceland

 

[Shawshank]

Even if we dont follow closely Italian and Lithuania league players.

Lithuania NT will have 4 players who played in 2025 Eurobasket and played real 10-20 minutes not just was sitting on bench.

Blazevic,Velicka,Sargiunas,Radzevicius + Gudaitis is euroleague calibre center.


I dont see 4 players in Italian window roster who played in Eurobasket real minutes.

 

[Italian Pride]

Even if we dont follow closely Italian and Lithuania league players.

Lithuania NT will have 4 players who played in 2025 Eurobasket and played real 10-20 minutes not just was sitting on bench.

Blazevic,Velicka,Sargiunas,Radzevicius + Gudaitis is euroleague calibre center.


I dont see 4 players in Italian window roster who played in Eurobasket real minutes.

Tonut would be in the roster if he was healthy last summer

We have only 4 players that have played this kind of game: Tonut, Della Valle, Procida, Tessitori

The others player are almost all rookies at this level of basketball, except candi that he's playing eurocup this year with Venice.
I hope to win against iceland and Fight against lithuania

I'm so curious to see our young players:suigo,garavaglia,assui,casarin,ferrari

I think they'll have many minutes to show their skills

 

[Shawshank]

Tonut would be in the roster if he was healthy last summer

We have only 4 players that have played this kind of game: Tonut, Della Valle, Procida, Tessitori

The others player are almost all rookies at this level of basketball, except candi that he's playing eurocup this year with Venice.
I hope to win against iceland and Fight against lithuania

I'm so curious to see our young players:suigo,garavaglia,assui,casarin,ferrari

I think they'll have many minutes to show their skills

I dont get logic of italian federation. So they dont take seriuosly this first window stage games .

I would get try younger fellows if qualification would be easy road and only 1 or 2 strong NT would be as opponents after draw.

Italy NT from my memory always qualified so they dont feel dangerou like Lithuanian fans dont. But look how Toruko fears every window game after his NT failed to qualife already multiple times.


2027 qualification draw for these 2 group got very chalenging and every win is must before joining Serbia,Turkey,Bosnia gang


Atleast in Lithuania media podcaster are saying we should take atleast 5-1 record before 2nd group stage. Every win will count in joined group even against last place in first group.


LTU NT didnt collect best players because shaky relationship between federation and Zalgiris and 5-6 injured players but this wont be some youngster unproven roster either.

 

[Italian Pride]

I dont get logic of italian federation. So they dont take seriuosly this first window stage games .

I would get try younger fellows if qualification would be easy road and only 1 or 2 strong NT would be as opponents after draw.

Italy NT from my memory always qualified so they dont feel dangerou like Lithuanian fans dont. But look how Toruko fears every window game after his NT failed to qualife already multiple times.


2027 qualification draw for these 2 group got very chalenging and every win is must before joining Serbia,Turkey,Bosnia gang


Atleast in Lithuania media podcaster are saying we should take atleast 5-1 record before 2nd group stage. Every win will count in joined group even against last place in first group.


LTU NT didnt collect best players because shaky relationship between federation and Zalgiris and 5-6 injured players but this wont be some youngster unproven roster either.

No, in a recent interview Banchi said that we have 12-13 players unavailable(clubs haven't given the permitt to play) or injuries

I think he reffers to:

Pajola-Mannion-Spissu
Di Vincenzo-Spagnolo
Fontecchio-Sarr-Niang
Ricci-Polonara-Akele
Diouf-Melli-Totè

So actually we have a B Team

With the akele's defction(only real PF after Ferrari), I expect to see procida in the spot of power forward

Against Lithuania i think Banchi will go with the most experienced players (Della Valle, procida,tonut,tessitori,candi,petrucelli) plus a young core players like Garavaglia(he 's playing eurocup with Ulm) or Suigo(he's playing Aba league with mega leks) that are playing many minutes this year with their team

 

[Shawshank]

Italy have little chance to win that game with such inexperience roster in Lithuania arena.

Italy NT better put all their eggs in game vs Iceland. Who is dangerous team with small but fast running and well shooting guards.

Last time those 2 team played in qualification it was 1-1 (two close games)


If Italy starts qualification 0-2 they would put themselfs in deep deep hole even A roster would be in seriuos problem not to get out of it looking at oppponents in later stages.

 

[Italian Pride]

Italy have little chance to win that game with such inexperience roster in Lithuania arena.

Italy NT better put all their eggs in game vs Iceland. Who is dangerous team with small but fast running and well shooting guards.

Last time those 2 team played in qualification it was 1-1 (two close games)


If Italy starts qualification 0-2 they would put themselfs in deep deep hole even A roster would be in seriuos problem not to get out of it looking at oppponents in later stages.

Tomorrow Nico Mannion will join NT

Thanks to Poeta