Olimpia Milano champion of Italy, Mirotic MVP as a Martian. And the rumors about Gallinari’s return…

Olimpia Milano champion of Italy: sixth championship of the Armani era. Is Danilo Gallinari coming back? Here’s the truth

Olimpia Milano celebrates the scudetto: the sixth of the Armani era and the third in a row with Ettore Messina on the bench. The playoff final series ends 3-1 against Virtus Bologna (also defeated in the two previous editions) with the audience of the Assago Forum celebrating title number 31 of EA7 Emporio Armani. “In the next few weeks he could give himself away Danilo Gallinari“, writes Il Giornale in these hours after the Italian title won. But in reality the situation is evolving. And, as the well-informed Real Olimpia Milano website (realolimpiamilano.com) underlined in recent hours, “until July the agency of the player will await movements on the NBA front, where a contender could also aim for the minimum veteran salary for a highly esteemed player, and who could also relaunch himself in Puerto Rico by playing continuously (in the pre-Olympic group that is about to open dreaming of Paris 2024, ed)”.

But there will be time to talk about the transfer market, strategies and new moves, in these hours it is the time for Olimpia Milano to celebrate a great scudetto which arrived after a wonderful run in the playoffs: 3-1 against Trento, 3-0 against Brescia and , as they said, the 3-1 that knocked out Virtus Bologna.

Olimpia Milano at the 31st tricolor, Ettore Messina: “No one wants to make you win three consecutive championships, the ability to suffer won”

Ettore Messina won the seventh scudetto of his career in Italy and the third in a row at the helm of Olimpia Milano: “We beat a strong, tough, deep team, with lots of weapons in attack to score in different ways. After the defeat in Trento, we found cohesion, determination and perhaps even the humility to play together, with rebounds, defense, the ability to attack the opponent’s weaknesses. This explains why, especially in the final, we always found so many different protagonists. I would say that we have found the solidity that we have only had in flashes during the year. I would say that at a certain point in the season it could have seemed like an unexpected result. Now we are satisfied, for us, for everyone, for having repaid the trust and commitment of Mr. Armani and Mr. Dell’Orco. Nobody wants to make you win three consecutive championships, everyone multiplies their efforts. To do this you have to be capable of suffering and we were capable of suffering.”

On team chemistry: “It wasn’t a problem for one or two players but for everyone. In these weeks of work in the playoffs we have found it. In my career I have never had the perception of being destined to win, I have had moments in which you feel a different solidity. So it was also this year, during the days of Trento. But it was a difficult season. We had big ambitions. Then we realized that not everything was working. We never had Billy Baron. I don’t want to compare him to Belinelli, but for us he was our Belinelli. We never had it and thought we had it. Then we made a mistake that I don’t want to revisit again. I did it once and everyone was offended. Given the conditions, having got back on your feet and won, I think it was important.”

On Kyle Hines: “Melli’s gesture of letting him raise the cup was nice. Maybe he, as a friend, knows something that I don’t yet know. We’ll talk to him. If he decides that it’s time to stop, it will also be the moment when he becomes a great coach or manager.”

The Olimpia Milano coach explains about his season: “I read a beautiful phrase from my colleague Andrea Trinchieri. He said that a defeat, a series cannot define him as a man and as a coach. He makes me think. He made me think about seeing Simone Pianigiani who won six, seven championships. I read a beautiful story about Jerry West: in his last year at the Lakers he didn’t watch a game because he was in too much pain, he was tormented by the mistakes he may have made. This also made me think.”

Olimpia Milano champion of Italy: the words of Mirotic and Melli after the scudetto

Nikola Mirotic, who ended the season with a 47 rating in the decisive match (30 points, 12 rebounds, also 2 blocks and the triple that destroyed any residual dream of a Bolognese comeback): “An incredible feeling, everything is beautiful – the words of the Spanish champion, as he celebrated the championship on the Forum parquet – We wanted this title very much and we deserved it”.

Captain Nicolò Melli talks about the red and white joy for the championship and a performance fighting as always on both sides of the pitch with lots of defense, 9 rebounds and a couple of important baskets: “I’m very happy, it was a difficult championship, especially in difficult moments and we are here to celebrate. It’s beautiful, we’re happy. Honor to Virtus, a great opponent and they had a great season. I’m happy for Nikola, for Flacca, I’m happy for my family. It’s nice to be here.”

EA7 EMPORIO ARMANI MILANO – VIRTUS SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA 85-73 (22-23, 46-36, 66-50, 85-73)

Olimpia Milano: Bortolani ne, Tonut 7, Melli 12 (9 reb), Napier 3 (6 ast), Ricci ne, Flaccadori 9, Hall 8, Caruso ne, Shields 10, Mirotic 30 (12 reb), Hines 2, Voigtmann 4 Coach Messina.

Virtus Bologna: Cordinier 21, Lundberg 12, Belinelli, Pajola 2, Mascolo, Shengelia 4, Hackett 5, Mickey, Polonara 12, Zizic, Dunston 8, Abass 9. Coach Banchi.

Notes: 51.9-56.1% two-point shooting, 45-20% three-point shooting, 85.7-75% free throws, 34-31 rebounds, 19-18 assists, 14-11 turnovers, 5-8 steals.