Olimpia plays an amazing match, wins the third consecutive match, the fifth of the last six, and defeats league leaders Fenerbahce at home, 91-85, a lying difference because in the fourth quarter the lead had exploded to 17 points. Against the best defense and the strongest rebounding team, Olimpia imposed its game, scored a lot, made Fenerbahce ineffective and won the battle of rebounds 36-32, 22 team assists, practically leading the game for all 40 minutes. Fenerbahce really took the lead only at the beginning of the third period, plus three, and Nikola Mirotic, author of a sensational game, responded with a personal 6-0. From that moment on, Olimpia no longer had to chase. Mirotic scored 18 points in the first half and finished with 29 points and nine rebounds. Zach LeDay after the five points scored 14 in the second half. Many gave a lot, Dimitrijevic scored crucial baskets, 15 points in 19 minutes, then there were the assists from Mannion, the defense and opportunism of Ricci, the defense of Shavon Shields, clean and good at making sacrifices. Even Armoni Brooks in a difficult evening made fundamental moves including a four-point play that launched Olimpia.
THE FIRST HALF – Wade Baldwin returns to Fenerbahce and scores five of the home team’s first seven points. Olimpia, however, does a great deal of rebounding work, obtaining second opportunities even if the percentages don’t support it. Mirotic scores twice from deep, LeDay scores a triple and after five minutes they are ahead 14-10. The maximum advantage reaches seven points after a triple by Dimitrijevic which precedes a three-pointer completed by Guduric. Olimpia holds up in defense even after Ricci’s second foul, who does well to contain Bonzie Colson. At the end of the first quarter it is 24-19 Olimpia. Dimitrijevic’s second triple scores the plus eight in the moment before a drop in precision on both sides. Olimpia also misses some free throws, so Fenerbahce comes back after Coach Jasikevicius’ time-out. Two triples from Biberovic are worth minus two, then a three-point play converted by Mirotic restores the five-point margin for Milan. Baldwin uses his penetrating power to create opportunities and draw fouls. A three-point play seals the tie, with Diop, Gillespie and Ricci burdened with two fouls. At the end of the quarter, Dimitrijevic did the best. A penetration to the rim and then two free throws give the lead back, 41-37, to Olimpia at half-time.
THE SECOND HALF – Fenerbahce starts the attack with a 7-0 run and from within four they immediately find themselves three points ahead, forcing Coach Messina to immediately spend his first time-out of the second half. Upon returning, Mirotic scores a personal 6-0, three-point game and triple, turning the game around. On a triple by Shields and three free throws again by Mirotic, Olimpia restored a five-point lead in an increasingly tough match. LeDay has to return to the bench with three fouls. Dimitrijevic with another offensive leap when Fenerbahce really has a lot from Baldwin and Biberovic, maintains a three-point lead for Milan 66-63 after three periods. At the beginning of the fourth, Ricci scores the plus five of the robbery. Fenerbahce responds immediately, but Causeur and Brooks hit two consecutive times from the same corner (Brooks’ one is a completed four-point play) suddenly building a ten-point margin for Olimpia with eight minutes to play, Coach Jasikevicius spends a time urgent -out, but Olimpia still defends well and a strike from Causeur determines the plus 12. Milan’s defense in the fourth period is amazing, it manages to play even with the bonus burned early and closes the possessions while controlling rebounds. Two free throws and then a short jumper by LeDay open a 15-point gap with 2:30 to go. Fenerbahce goes on the final assault with Colson scoring twice from three and closing the game to within nine. Then Zagars converts a three-pointer and also makes a triple. Olimpia is a bit slow but hits the free throws it has to and deservedly wins a great match, 91-85.
