Italy Wins 11th Trentino Basket Cup Title in 12 Editions, Beats Estonia 83-61

Italy's men's national team closed out its Trentino tune-up with a comfortable win, beating Estonia 83-61 at BTS Arena on Saturday to claim the Trentino Basket Cup for the 11th time in 12 editions of the tournament. Simone Fontecchio (203-SF-1995) led the way with 21 points and was named the game's MVP by Aquila Basket Trento president Luigi Longhi, while Trento city councillor Michele Brugnara presented the trophy for the 12th edition of the event. Roughly 3,500 fans were on hand, along with Italy's women's national team, which had already beaten China 88-76 on Friday and followed up with an 81-57 win in a closed-doors scrimmage against the same opponent earlier Saturday.
Head coach Luca Banchi had 12 of his 16 available players in action, with Nicola Akele (203-F-1995, college: URI), Leonardo Candi (190-PG-1997, agency: Players Group), John Petrucelli (193-G/F-1992, college: Molloy) and Riccardo Rossato (190-PG-1996, agency: Players Group) held out; captain Nicolo Melli (205-F/C-1991) started alongside Nicolo Mannion (190-PG-2001, college: Arizona), Darius Thompson (193-PG-1995, college: WKU), Simone Fontecchio and Saliou Niang (200-F-2004). Estonia, still riding the momentum of a dramatic overtime win over Lithuania two days earlier (110-108, with 70 combined points from Drell, Kristian Kullamaee (193-PG-1999) and Joesaar), set the early pace threes from Kristian Kullamaee and four points from captain Maik-Kalev Kotsar (210-C-1996, college: S.Carolina, agency: Slash Sports) put the Baltic side up 13-9. Italy answered through Mannion and Simone Fontecchio, whose 10 first-quarter points helped push Italy to a max lead of 21-14 in the seventh minute, but Maik-Kalev Kotsar's basket at the buzzer pulled Estonia back within a single possession, 23-21, after ten minutes.
The margin stayed tight through the second quarter as Estonia showcased an effective mix of physical size inside and skilled guard play. Baldasso's three plus a fast-break basket, Mannion's corner three, and a Thompson-to-Simone Fontecchio connection pushed Italy back up by five, but Estonia's composed group under head coach Rannula clawed back in the closing minute, and the two sides went into the break with Italy up just 39-37.
The third quarter turned the game. Estonia opened it with a 7-2 run to briefly lead 44-41, but Italy answered immediately with a decisive 25-6 surge Matteo Spagnolo (193-PG-2003) scored and created for others, while Simone Fontecchio, Mannion and Giampaolo Ricci (202-PF-1991) stretched the lead from three, building a cushion as large as 16 points by the end of the period, 66-50. Italy stayed fully in control in the fourth, with Giovanni Emejuru nearly bringing the rim down on two consecutive highlight dunks, and Estonia eased off as the margin kept growing, with Italy closing out the 83-61 win.
Simone Fontecchio finished 3-of-5 on two-pointers and 4-of-10 from three for his 21 points, and Baldasso added 16 points on 4-of-5 shooting with two made threes. Niang scored eight, and Spagnolo contributed nine points. For Estonia, Artur Konontsuk (202-F-2000, college: Southern Miss) led all scorers with 16 points, Kristian Kullamaee added 13, and Maik-Kalev Kotsar finished with nine.
Banchi said afterward it was inevitable the team would feel the accumulated fatigue of training camp, noting Estonia has played together for years and had already shaken off its own rust two days earlier against Lithuania. He said Italy needed the first 20 minutes to find its footing, calling the team's overall form rough and uneven but praising its team spirit, adding that the second half showed real willingness to help each other and sharpen the details on both ends of the floor after a sloppier opening quarter.
Italy's squad now takes a rest day before regrouping in Pesaro on the morning of August 24, ahead of departing for Tuzla on August 27 to open the FIBA World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers Second Round against Bosnia and Herzegovina on August 28 (8:00 PM, live on Sky Sport, Now and DAZN).