Philippines vs Italy Prediction & Betting Tips - Basketball World Cup

Prediction published on 28/08/2023, 06:20  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 28/08/2023 at 07:21 in Basketball World Cup Predictions

Italy can qualify for the second round of the FIBA World Basketball Cup. They are second in the group going into this final match and face the Philippines who are bottom. Italy are a point behind leaders, the Dominican Republic and ahead of third placed Angola who they beat in their opening group fixture. Italy won that match 81-67, though they were only four points ahead going into the final quarter. Their second group match was against the Dominican Republic but that ended in an 87-82 defeat. Two of the quarters were won by at least six points but they owed their surprise defeat to a disastrous third quarter that was lost 31-17. Marco Spissu was their top scorer with 17 points and along with Simone Fontecchio (19 points against Angola) will cause plenty of problems for their opponents.

The Philippines have lost both of their matches so far but could still qualify for the second round. A win over Italy by 12 points and defeat for Angola against the Dominican Republic will see them go through. They began their campaign with a 87-81 loss to the Dominican Republic. They put up a strong fight though and were only a couple of points behind their opponents going into the final quarter. They then took on Angola and got off to a great start by winning the first quarter by seven points. Their lead was lost in the second quarter and went into the break three points down. Angola won the next two quarters to win the match by ten points. The top scorer for the Philippines in that match was the Utah Jazz player Jordan Clarkson with 21 points. They do rely on him a lot and if Italy can keep him relatively quiet, they can win this match. We go for Italy to win and be ahead at both and half time.