Hackett excited about Italy's World Cup campaign

MILAN (Italy) - Daniel Hackett believes Italy can make waves at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China this summer.

The 29-year-old point guard, who made one appearance in the European Qualifiers, has had a solid season with CSKA Moscow and is hoping to be in the Azzurri squad that plays in Group D against Angola, the Philippines and Serbia.

A top two finish would put the Italians in Second Round Group J where they would face the top two countries that come out of a Group C that has Spain, Iran, Puerto Rico and Tunisia. The top two teams in Group J will advance to the Quarter-Finals.

“WE HAVE THE TALENT, THE MATURITY AND THE EXPERIENCE TO PLAY A GOOD TOURNAMENT. WE ONLY HAVE TO WORK WITH HUMILITY AND WITHOUT MAKING PUBLIC PROMISES.”- Italy guard Daniel Hackett

Hackett has won a European club competition title with CSKA this season and the Russian outfit is also in the VTB league play-offs.

“My next goal is to have a great summer with the national team," he said to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "We have the talent, the maturity and the experience to play a good tournament. We only have to work with humility and without making public promises.

"At the World Cup, there are not only medals at stake, but also a pass to the Olympic Games Qualifying Rounds."

Hackett is often on the hardwood fighting for loose balls

The two European teams with the highest finishes at the World Cup will qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Games, and the 16 next best teams will each be granted a place in one of the four FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in 2020, where they will have another chance to qualify for Tokyo.

Italy have not reached the podium since 2004, when the Azzurri captured a silver medal at the Athens Olympics. The country's best finish at a World Cup was fourth in both 1970 (Ljubljana) and 1978 (Manila).

Hackett, who averaged 6.0 points, 3.0 assists and 3.6 rebounds at FIBA EuroBasket 2017, says there is another reason to look forward to the World Cup.

"(Italy boss Romeo) Sacchetti is a good coach and he lets us have fun on the court," he said.

FIBA