The week in the Euroleague of Olimpia Milano ends with a clear success. The Lombards clearly beat Simone Fontecchio’s Baskonia for 89-78, in a match never questioned from start to finish (net of a slight drop in concentration in the third quarter). With tonight’s success the Armani Exchange is two out of two in the European week, consolidating the third place in the standings (17-7) behind Real Madrid and Barcelona. The Milanese will return to the field in Europe on 24 February, when they face Olympiacos Piraeus in Athens. Sixth consecutive knockout for the Spaniards, who thus remain in third last place in the ranking (7-17).
Top scorer for Ettore Messina’s team Devon Hall (15 points) and Sergio Rodriguez (14 points), with Nicolò Melli placing a double double (13 points and 11 rebounds). Among the Basques, however, 23 points by Matthew Costello e 16 in Wade Baldwin IV. Solo 5on the other hand, the points scored by the former Simone Fontecchio.
First quarter in which the two teams struggle to find the way to the basket, with the score pinned to 0-0 for almost two minutes. Devon Hall takes care of moving the scoresheet with a penetration (2-0, -8’21 “). The Spaniards struggle a lot, with Melli accelerating and taking the elevator to fly to crush (4-0). Baskonia finds the first points from the line with Peters (4-2), but the Captain is still the protagonist of this fraction with the stop and shot (6-2). Hines takes the bottom line and leans against the scoreboard (8-2), with coach Spahija having to stop everything and call time-out. Marinkovic finds the bomb of -3 (8-5) when there are 5 ‘to the first siren. Hines scores and is fouled (10-5), but the former Fontecchio shoots the -2 bomb (10-8). Melli takes care of it with four consecutive points for the +6 Armani Exchange (14-8), followed by a coast-to-coast perfect of Bentil (16-8). Costello unlocks the score for the guests (16-10), but Devon Hall sets out on his own and scores the triple of +9 (19-10). Troy Daniels makes 2/3 from the line, with Milan breaking the double-digit lead by closing the first fraction eleven lengths (21-10).
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Second quarter which opens with the construction of the Rodriguez arch for +14 Milan (24-10), to which Costello responds with the same coin (24-13). The American center finds another basket on the counterattack to return under the double figure of disadvantage (24-15). The pace increases but also the errors in attack, especially by the Spaniards who try in vain to worry the white-reds. Enoch, however, manages to get around Melli, crushing with two hands for -7 (24-17). Malcolm Delaney gets up from the arch and places the triple of the new +10 Milan (27-17), with Baldwin IV scoring from the painted (27-19). Troy Daniels finds the bomb of 30-19, with Olimpia taking their distance and going to +11 with less than 4 ‘at the second siren. Baldwin IV nails undisturbed and the Baskonia returns below -10 (30-21), but Bentil takes the measures and scores (32-21). Jerian Grant does not miss the free (34-23). Coach Spahija gets a technical foul for protests, with Troy Daniels scoring the additional shot (35-23). Peters makes it 2/2 on the free throws, but Devon Hall is perfect from the arc (38-25) just seconds from the end of the quarter. Rodriguez catches Daniels from the throw-in, with the American who takes off and scores the 40-25 basket with which the two teams go to the long interval.
In the third quarter Baskonia immediately starts strong with Marikovic’s bomb (40-28), to which Devon Hall responds promptly from 6 meters and 75 (43-28). Nicolò Melli also scores from the arch, with the Reggio player climbing to 11 points scored (46-28). Hines is fouled and made no mistake from the line, thus updating the maximum advantage to +20 (48-28). The Iberians are unable to break through the wall raised in defense by the Milanese, who close all spaces and at the same time manage to score from all positions. The American center former CSKA Moscow flies to crush for the +22 (50-28, -5’50 “), with Troy Daniels finding the jump shot and rises to 10 points (52-28): coach Spahija immediately stops everything and calls time-out. Rodriguez scores in precarious balance with the foul, without however closing the 2 + 1 (54-28). Trey Kell makes 1/2 to the free throws (55-28), with Baskonia that is released thanks to Simone Fontecchio from the line (55-30). Malcolm Costello penetrates and is fouled, then scoring the additional shot (55-33): Messina does not tolerate drops in concentration despite the reassuring advantage and stops everything by calling time-out. Matthew Costello takes the chair: the former Scandone Avellino scores nine consecutive points climbing to 19, with Milan finding in the middle the baskets of Kell from two and Rodriguez from the arc (60-44). Hall loses Giedraitis, who places the goal of -14 (60-46): the Basques seem to have regained confidence, with Olimpia probably accusing a drop in concentration. The ‘Chacho’ stops the bleeding, first firing the bomb for +15 (63-48) and then scoring on the siren from the bow in step-back for 66-48 with which the third fraction ends.
Last quarter with Giedratis who immediately gets a technical foul: Devon Hall does not miss the free (67-48). Milan manages the advantage, with the number 22 placing the bomb of +22 Olilmpia (70-48). Hines harpoons the rebound in attack and catches Melli who takes the lift and crushes with both hands (72-48): the Armani Exchange does not lift his foot from the accelerator and continues to increase the advantage, with Baskonia struggling to contain the excessive power of Red Shoes. Troy Daniels gets up from the arc and scores (75-53), to which Alec Peters responds (75-53). Delaney sets up on his own and penetrates by leaning against the basket (77-53). Baldwin IV scores and is fouled (77-56), but shortly afterwards he enters the Paul Biligha match report with four consecutive points (81-56). The Armani Exchange just doesn’t want to stop, with coach Spahija unable to shake his to try to make the bottom less heavy. Giedraitis places the triple from the corner (81-59) when there are 3’40 ”to the final siren. It is still the former Bayern Munich to penetrate and score for -20 (81-61), with Malcolm Delaney placing the triple of +23 (84-61). The American playmaker gets a coach for trying to keep the ball alive by throwing it at Costello, finishing his game prematurely. The American center of Baskonia crushes (84-66), followed by Raiste (84-68). Bentil takes care of closing the mini-break (86-68), with Giedratis placing the triple of -15 (86-71) less than a minute from the end of the match. Baldwin IV makes 2/2 from the free throws (86-73), with Milan allowing itself a few small mistakes too despite the enormous advantage. Jerian Grant places all three free throws (89-73), with Costello scoring by being fouled (89-75). Baldwin IV finds the triple in the 89-78 final with which Olimpia Milano wins and makes two out of two in the Euroleague this week!
THE MATCH TABLE
A | X ARMANI EXCHANGE OLIMPIA MILAN-BITCI BASKONIA-VITORIA GASTEIZ 89-78 (21-10, 19-15, 26-23, 23-30)
Milano: Kell 3, Melli 13, Grant 5, Rodriguez 14, Tarczewski, Ricci, Biligha 4, Hall 15, Delaney 8, Daniels 13, Hines 8, Bentil 6,
Baskonia: Raieste 2, Baldwin IV 16, Sedekerskis, Marinkovic 6, Granger 4, Fontecchio 5, Enoch 2, Costello 23, Peters 8, Giedratis 12, Kurucs.
Credit: Ciamillo
