Five victories in a row, seven in the last eight, sixth place in the standings, confidence at its highest and identity consolidated. THE’Armani who brings home the long battle of body and nerves against Asvel Villeurbane knocks on the Europe that counts, with life changed in exactly one month: the one that has passed since Nico Mannion’s debut (victory with Real), the piece that was missing, which fixed everything, which gave meaning to a team that now has the heart and ability to bring home complicated evenings, as well as the second attack of the 90-point cup always in the pipeline. Not that everything depends on the “red” son of Pace: yet it is he, at the end of a complicated evening for the Milanese playmakers (disastrous shooting for Dimitrijevic) who fishes the basket and fouls 38 seconds from the end which seals the +6 and the game at 88-82.
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Milan Felix. And around the national team’s point guard, a group has flourished that has Mirotic and Leday as unsolvable puzzles among the big men, Brooks as a can-opener from the perimeter, Causeur as an occult genius and all-rounder (5 rebounds, 3 assists and 6 steals, if you like) and ready wingmen to sacrifice himself for the cause: this time it is Diop, with his obscure work in the two areas, the extra man. “He is very good – coach Ettore Messina praises him – after the injury he struggled to recover, he gave us minutes of great quality. Growth? Simply put, it took time to find our identity. We had problems finding continuity and hierarchies, but this group, even in the dark moments, worked in the gym with enthusiasm and availability. They felt bad when we lost, the commitment was never lacking, many have quality.”
It wasn’t a walk in the park, despite the Asvel sailing (as usual) in the continental slums. But they are a talented and physical team, despite the absence of the very veteran De Colo, weapons that the French made a burden for almost two quarters in which Olimpia struggled to enter the area, to find rhythm, to run. With former NBA player Maledon in charge, Sako’s centimeters in charge in the area and a pressing defense in the middle of the field and then everyone hunkering down under the basket, it took a while to solve the puzzle. Brooks was the first to find the keys, then the class of Mirotic to respond to Lauvergne’s lashes, finally the energy of “backpack” Leday and the basketball wisdom of Causeur, the two moral leaders of this group, to find the first advantage in bottom of the second quarter (34-33 at 17′) and consolidate it into a +5 at the long break.
However, those who expected free descents from there did not take into account the shortness of breath of a team that continues to suffer from absences (Bolmaro, Tonut and Nebo, all people of muscle and substance) and some empty passes from the second lines, like Dimitrijevic and Gillespie. The early plus-8 at the start of the second half was never a safe one, because on Armani’s favorite terrain – the race – there were faster hares, including the gregarious Lee and Roberson, to give substance to the scratches of Maledon and Lauvergne (58- 59 at 28′). On the French overtaking, Armani was good at rebuilding with the little things, Brooks’ bites, Diop’s robberies in the area, the few good things from Shields, up to Mirotic’s banderillas and Mannion’s muleta, with the fatal sword.
“It’s a very important victory because it’s not a given – Messina rejoices at the end – they are very athletic and have two guards who create attack. It’s a good step forward in growth, even when we missed good shots and some defense we always maintained the right attitude and control of the game. And then in the Euroleague we always have Causeur which is important for us: it gives solidity, calm, killer instinct. Maybe on Sunday, since he’s 37, we’ll keep him aside for the Barcelona match.” Yes: the Italian derby the day after tomorrow against Virtus Bologna who are most in difficulty in recent years and a tasty challenge in a week at the Palau Blaugrana, aiming even higher. Who would have thought it, in the pre-Mannion era?
Armani Milano – Asvel Villeurbane 92-84
ARMANI: Mannion 11, Shields 8, Ricci, Mirotic 17, Leday 17 Dimitrijevic 4, Brooks 14, Causeur 9, Diop 8, Gillespie 4. Coach: Messina
ASVEL: Maledon 24, Harrison 5, Lighty 2, Roberson 13, Saco 4; Lee 7, Kahudi, Ajinca 3, Ndiaye 7, Black, Lauvergne 19. Coach: Poupet.
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