Recently crowned EuroCup winners Laura Macchi, Raffaella Masciadri and Kathrin Ress of Beretta-Famila (Schio) have all been named in Italy's preliminary squad for this summer's EuroBasket 2009 qualifying campaign.

The trio were in last summer's team that advanced beyond the group stage at the EuroBasket Women in Chieti.

Other Schio players, Betta Moro and Federica Ciampoli have also been included.

Now all the Azzurre need is a coach, with Giampiero Ticchi among the candidates to lead the side that played under Gianni Lambruschi last year.

Italy will have their first training session from June 12-27 and will meet almost a month later to intensify their preparations.

The Azzurre will take on Poland, Finland, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Turkey later this year with their first game at the Finns on September 3.

Preliminary Italy women's squad:

Marte Alexander, Benedetta Bagnara, Simona Ballardini, Monica Bello, Monica Bonafede, Federica Ciampoli, Mariangela Cirone, Licia Corradini, Dubravka Dacic, Mariachiara Franchini, Immacolata Gentile, Angela Gianolla, Eva Giauro, Sara Giauro, Adriana Grasso, Michelle Greco,  Laura Macchi, Raffaella Masciadri, Roberta Meneghel, Francesca Modica, Jami Montagnino, Betta Moro, Jennifer Nadalin, Chiara Pastore, Manuela Ramon, Kathrin Ress, Lavinia Santucci, Silvia Sarni, Giorgia Sottana, Abiola Wabara, Manuela Zanon, Ilaria Zanoni, Francesca Zara, Anna Zimerle.