The United States crushed Italy (100-63) Tuesday in Manila in the quarterfinals to join the last four of the World Basketball, missed in the previous edition. Beaten Sunday by Lithuania (110-104) for the first time in the competition, Team USA will face Germany or Latvia on Friday in the semi-finals, opposed on Wednesday.

Faced with muffled and very clumsy Italians, the Americans made the difference in the first period (24-14 after the first quarter, 46-24 at the break). They gave us a few nice gestures, including a splendid “alley-oop”. The Americans will face either Germany or Latvia in the semi-finals.