Euroleague, Valencia-MIlano 84-88: fifth victory in a row for Olimpia

Fifth consecutive win for Milanwho passes 88 to 84 on the court by Valencia. EA7 continues to rear its head in Euroleaguewith a super game, doing the right things in the important moments, driven by an immense Shabazz Napier (28 points with 5/8 from 3), who is trying to find the right understanding and leadership with Pangos (13 points); but theOlympia can smile even for the 12 points of a fantastic Hedgehogsand for plays on both sides of the various pitch Hines, Voigtmann And Melli. The goal was to try to win, and then start looking at the standings, and despite some mistakes and uncertainties in the first half, Milan took the lead in the opening third quarter, and thanks to an almost perfect match from behind arc (15/32), brings home this very important victory, to keep open the hope of reaching eighth place, which is worth a place in the post season. Thursday at the Forum comes the Partizan Belgradealready defeated at home, and fresh from the success against Virtus in Bologna, to try to feed the play-off dream.

First Quarter (17-21): Confirmation of the starting quintet of these last Euroleague days for the red and white, but Pangos and Shields are on the bench, returning from their respective injuries. Milan starts imprecise from the outside, and the Spaniards take advantage of it with Dubljevic (5-14 in the middle of the quarter), always surgical, in punishing the defensive errors of coach Messina’s boys. Shields and then Pangos come in first, and it’s just a triple from the Canadian point guard to close the first ten minutes on 17 to 21 for Valencia.

Second Quarter (22-21): It starts again with the hosts, who place a 7-0 in just under two minutes (17-28 and maximum advantage), but Milan responds with 5 points from Pangos, and support on the scoreboard from Hines and Napier, for the 9 to 0, which immediately brings EA7 closer (26-28). Despite the defensive lapses and 8 turnovers, thanks to a precious 4/5 from 3 in the quarter, Olimpia closed the first half only three points down (39-42).

Third Quarter (26-13): Ricci and Napier score, and Milan puts their nose forward (44-42); Puerto scores, but again Napier and Ricci (at 10 with no mistakes from the field) force Mumbru to time out (49-45 in the 24th minute). Valencia in great difficulty with the “short rolls” of Hines, able to serve the shooters (Voigtmann, Napier and Baron) on the three-point arc, and an attempt to extend by the red and white (62-51), while the hosts argue with the “Fonteta” irons (4/22 from three and 1/9 in the quarter), and we enter the last ten minutes, with EA7 ahead 65-55.

Fourth Quarter (23-29): Mumbru tries everything, and three minutes of (positive) basketball madness by Harper bring the Valencians back into contact (72-68 in the 35th minute). Game decided by a triple by Napier (80-72), and by a basket by Melli (82-74), even if in the last seconds, the Spaniards find the strength to arrive at minus one (85-84) 14 seconds from siren, but an offensive rebound by Melli, on Napier’s mistake from the line, definitively closes any discussion. It ends 88 to 84, and for Milan comes the fifth consecutive victory in Europe.

Messina (Coach EA7 Milan): “It’s never easy to win here, we had a great moment in the third quarter, while in the fourth quarter they were more aggressive and with their talent they even found some triple transitions that were reopening it. I ask the team to be competitive until the end to show us that it would have been a different season, with the perception of leaving a judgment on us from the outside.”

Shabazz Napier (playing EA7 Milan): “We played a great game, did a good job defensively and also built up some open shots, playing a really good game today. We came together at the right time, the team is doing well now and as far as I’m concerned, I’m already ready for the next challenge.”

Melli (EA7 Milan wing): “Finally we have found some very important players for us and this is helping us a lot. We have to continue to build on this, as well as play game after game and continue like this, to see at the end of the regular season where we will arrive.”

EA7 MILAN : Napier 28, Pangos 13 and Ricci 12.

VALENCIA : Jones 19, Harper and Puerto 15.