From Germany comes a very heavy thud for Olimpia (the sixth in nine games), which at the end throws itself away, and after an overtime surrenders 101 to 105 to Alba Berlin. Milan were good for over 30 minutes (68-55 at 25′), nevertheless coach Messina’s team never managed to give the Germans the decisive push (today with 8 absent and only 10 players on the scoresheet, of including 4 very young players), who from minus 12 in the first 20 minutes, thanks to the scoring streak of Procida, Spagnolo, Mattiseck and Williams, recovered the entire deficit, scored (92-92) with 30″ to go and then dominated the extra time, taking advantage of the carelessness and superficiality of coach Messina’s boys. For the hosts it is the second victory of this Euroleague, while for EA7 it is a knockout that hurts greatly, both for the pre-match expectations and for how the defeat developed (leading for 39 minutes). First half ended 12 points ahead, with the Leday-Mirotic duo on top (33 combined points in 20′), while the Germans offensively rely totally on the Italian duo Spagnolo-Procida (49 combined points at the end). In the second half Milan always seems to be in control, but they don’t close the game, and so comes first the draw (92-92) in regulation time and then the disastrous extra time, where EA7 manages to throw themselves away once again. Olimpia just isn’t able to give a bit of continuity to its results, and is now awaiting a real acid test in Belgrade (Friday at 8.30pm) in the match against coach Obradovic’s Partizan, who in this start of the season they sail like the red and whites in the bottom of the table (2 wins and 6 losses).
First Quarter (23-19): Strong start for Milan (9-2) with Leday and Mirotic making use of all their experience on both sides of the pitch. The Germans respond, with the additions of Spagnolo and Williams from the bench, they overtake Olimpia at 11 to 13. Partial Olimpia (11-0) with Brooks, Mirotic and Leday three times for 22 to 13, but the Alba point guard he puts another 6 in line to keep his team in touch (23-19).
Second Quarter (32-24): Milan pays a high price for some defensive slips and Alba strikes again (31 all in the 14th minute). Another break for EA7, but this time it’s 10 to 0, with Leday and Mirotic still on top (33 points in 20 minutes) and a lead that goes up to +12 going into the long break (55-43).
Third Quarter (22-26): Schizophrenic rhythms, but Milan always has the ball on the game and the score in hand (68-55 at 25′), while Alba’s resources are at the limit of survival, with Mattiseck making two fundamental triples to stay afloat (72 -63) and Williams and Procida in the final quarter to punish AX’s continuous defensive lapses (77-69).
Fourth Quarter (15-23): Milan continues to suffer everything in its half of the pitch; Procida, Spagnolo and Williams continue to find the basket with ease, and in the final two free throws from Schneider send the game to overtime (92-92), with Alba also having the possession and the shot to win, but the Spagnolo’s shot goes out on the first iron.
Overtime (9-13): The Germans immediately took the lead with two free throws from Williams, Mirotic equalized (94-94), but the balance was broken with Procida’s three-point play (basket and foul) and Schneider’s triple (94-100). There would be time (3 minutes left), but Olimpia decided to throw themselves away, collecting bad attacks and bad defenses, and so the home team triumphed, with a glacial Procida, fixing the final 101 to 105 from the line.
Ettore Messina (coach EA7 Milan): “Congratulations to Alba Berlin, who despite being down for the whole match, continued to compete and when they won extra time they had the momentum on their side and exploited it. We wasted the two previous victories, especially the beautiful victory against Real last week, playing a horrible second half. Poor defense and turnovers cost us the game. Our superficiality in the second half is difficult to swallow. At this point we probably have to accept that some players, especially important in this team, are superficial. We lost four balls on entry passes; and all the comebacks we have suffered this season have been the result of superficiality. We must continue to work, to push, and to be increasingly demanding. There’s no other way out of this.”
EA7 MILAN: Mirotic 28 (10 rebounds), Leday 23.
ALBA BERLIN: Procida 29, Williams 23 (11 rebounds), Mattiseck 21 and Spagnolo 20 (9 assists).
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