Fontecchio Shines As Four Jazz Players Begin FIBA Play
Aug 24, 2022, 6:09 PM | Updated: 7:04 pm
Utah Jazz forward Simone Fontecchio will play for the Italian National Team at the FIBA Qualifiers (Photo by Aris Messinis - Pool/Getty Images)
(Photo by Aris Messinis - Pool/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Four Utah Jazz players will suit up for their national teams this weekend as they participate in the 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
The qualifiers began on Wednesday, August 24, and run through August 30.
Along with the four Jazz players, there will be 36 other NBA representatives suiting up across the Asian, African, American, and European FIBA qualifying regions.
Jordan Clarkson – Philippines
Jordan Clarkson, who identifies as Filipino-American, is one of only two current NBA players (Jalen Green, Houston) with Filipino heritage and last played for the national team at the 2018 Asian Games.
Clarkson’s grandmother was born in Manila where the former Sixth Man of the Year has become a national hero.
Jordan Clarkson will suit up for the Philippines at the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers later this month according to Sportando. #TakeNote | @UtahJazz https://t.co/roeOvw1Q2U
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 9, 2022
The Philipinnes will take on Lebanon on August 25 at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex in Beirut, the Lebanese capital city.
On August 29, the Philipinnes will host Saudi Arabia at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker – Canada
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, born in Toronto, moved to the US in high school to prove himself against the highest levels of competition before attending Virginia Tech for college.
Code Red 🔴🇨🇦
The @CanBball Senior Men’s National Team is ready to tip-off the fourth window of the 2023 @fibawc qualifier in Victoria, BC this Thursday.
📸: @CanBball #WinForCanada pic.twitter.com/K1ZoygdJ8f
— CEBL (@CEBLeague) August 23, 2022
Alexander-Walker was acquired by the Jazz at the trade deadline last season along with Juancho Hernangomez in exchange for Joe Ingles.
Team Canada will open play Thursday against Argentina before facing Panama on Monday.
Leandro Bolmaro – Argentina
Leandro Bolmaro is one of the new Jazz faces acquired in the Rudy Gobert blockbuster trade in early July.
Bolmaro has already made his Jazz debut playing for the team at the Las Vegas Summer League where he averaged 10.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists.
The Jazz wing will suit up for the Argentine National Team beginning Thursday when they face Canada, before hosting the Bahamas on Monday.
Simone Fontecchio – Italy
Simone Fontecchio is the newest member of the Jazz after signing a three-year guaranteed contract with the team this summer.
Fontecchio is regarded as the top European small forward and has played well for the Italian National Team in the past, including during the 2020 Olympics.
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Italy began play on Wednesday and Fontecchio did not disappoint. The forward scored 20 points and grabbed three rebounds as Italy knocked off Ukraine as the first Jazz player to appear at the FIBA Qualifiers.
