Angola vs Italy

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The date is August 25, 2023.

4:00 a.m. ET (4:00 p.m. in the Philippines)

Philippine Arena in Bulacan, Philippines

After months of planning, the opening game of the 2023 FIBA World Cup has been reduced to hours. Italy and Angola will each be hoping to kick off their respective campaigns with a strong win.

The Italians are a seasoned squad that recently completed a victorious 2022 EuroBasket campaign. Meanwhile, the Angolans will have a younger and less experienced lineup when compared to previous FIBA tournament teams.

The Africans' nerves will be put to the test if Italy gets off to a fast start. Angola must keep the game close in order to pull off an upset against the 10th-ranked Italians.

On August 25, Italy will face Angola in the opening game of the 2023 FIBA World Cup at the massive Philippine Arena in Bulacan, Philippines. Following a spectacular and culturally rich opening ceremony, the Italians and Angolans will compete for the competition's first victory.

The Italians' leading scorer, Utah Jazz forward Simone Fontecchio, will be at the forefront of the team's campaign. Veterans Luigi Datome, Nicolo Melli, Giampaolo Ricci, and Stefano Tonut will assist him.

Gianmarco Pozzecco's squad will be virtually the same as the one that stunned Serbia in the Round of 16 of EuroBasket 2022. Last year, the Italians forced the strong French team into overtime before eventually falling.

Italy will aim to make the semifinals of this event and earn their first podium place.

Angola was one of the oldest teams in China for the 2019 World Cup. Several of the previous legends have retired, allowing a new generation of players to lead the squad to unparalleled heights.

Bruno Fernando of the Atlanta Hawks will lead the Angolans. Along with Jilson Bango and Silvio Sousa, he will serve as the team's anchor in the middle. While Fernando is the sole NBA star, others believe Bango may follow in his footsteps in the near future.