Olimpia Milano, the playoffs start badly: defeat at home against Trento

Olimpia Milano, the playoffs start badly: defeat at home against Trento

“Even though Baldwin won the game with Baldwin’s last shot, Trento deserved to prevail. We had beaten them three times out of three this year and we played well in the first quarter (closed ahead 32-21, ed). Since then, our defense has become poor. In attack, we played an untidy and undisciplined game, but 84 points should be enough to win but it didn’t happen. We lost Game 1 and we have to get back to work to win Game 2.” the words of Ettore Messina after Olimpia Milano’s defeat at home against Trento in the first match of the series (84-85 match decided by a spell with one second remaining by Baldwin).

On the choice to use Billy Baron – returning after the third elbow operation in a few months and acclaimed by an ovation from the crowd when he set foot on the Forum parquet after 7 minutes of the match – the coach of the Italian champion team explains: “We are convinced, we were before and we are now, that we needed an extra guard. They rotated two long solos, often playing small. Cooke played a great game, but I think Melli and Hines will have to do. There are expectations of game quality to be expressed. If they are not enough then the problem is more serious. In attack, as I said, we played a game that was not very organized and without enough discipline, settling for the first available three-point shot that Trento had chosen to concede.”

On nervousness on the pitch: “Yes, there was nervousness, because during the match they realized that we were repeating the mistakes made all year and that we need to fix them quickly. We are here to win matches, for nothing else, and we must do what it takes to do that otherwise it will be tough”, concludes Ettore Messina

Game 2 at the Forum on Tuesday at 8.30pm, then on Friday 17th the series will move to Trento.

EA7 EMPORIO ARMANI MILAN-DOLOMITI ENERGIA TRENTO 84-85 (32-21; 43-43; 64-69)

OLIMPIA MILAN: Bortolani ne, Tonut 8, Melli 8, Baron 5, Napier 14, Ricci, Flaccadori, Hall 5, Caruso ne, Shields 27, Mirotic 13, Hines 4. All. Messina

TRENT: Ellis 6, Hubb 10, Alviti 6, Conti, Forray 10, Cooke 21, Diarra ne, Biligha 7, Mooney 3, Homms 5, Baldwin 17. Team Galbiati
Notes: 2-point shots: MI 18/35, TN 21/32; 3-pointers: MI 7/24, TN 11/29; free throws: MI 27/31, TN 10/12;
rebounds: MI 33 (Shields 8), TN 30 (Cooke 8); assists: MI 16 (Tonut 4), TN 23 (Hubb 6