It was bound to happen sooner or later, and we are on the clock. Today, Italy will face Paolo Banchero and his United States in the quarterfinals of the World Basketball Championships in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. At 2:40 p.m. Italian time at the Asia Arena in Manila, the first confrontation between the Azzurri and the NBA Rookie of the Year, whom the Italian Basketball Federation had long courted, cradling the dream of seeing him under Coach Pozzecco's orders, will be staged. The dream seemed vivid until the outbreak of the pandemic: Banchero, not yet landed in the NBA, not yet a decisive player and especially a central figure in the U.S. sports industry, had accepted the Italian call-up. Then came the stop of the competitions, the lockdowns, the draft, the great rookie season in Orlando and the feeling that he could enter the Olympus of star basketball: last June came the about-face. We have to face the truth: Banchero does not have much Italian in him (U.S. mother, father originally from Valbrevenna), does not speak Italian and has never been to Italy even as a tourist. Nonetheless, the chance to have such a pure talent to lead the Azzurri appealed to the Federation, which - not without reason - looked out for Italian sporting interests. Perhaps the timing of Banchero's turnaround, however, on that occasion was not perfect, though ultimately legitimate. "Playing for the United States is literally one of my biggest dreams as a child," he had said months ago in explaining his choice. There is no reason not to believe him, although the disappointment of not being able to see him in the Azzurri remains. Meanwhile, today, for the first time, may the best win.