Melli, what a decisive block. Olimpia Milano 2-1 with Virtus Bologna

Melli, what a decisive block on Lundberg. Olimpia Milano 2-1 with Virtus Bologna

“A very tough match. We are grateful to the public who supported us through all the difficult times. They were two different games in the first half, we both had great ease in scoring, in the second half we limited their three-pointers, revealing ourselves a little under the basket. We conceded something but we didn’t allow him to get into a rhythm with his shots.” the words of Ettore Messina at the end of game 3 which saw Olimpia Milano beat Virtus Bologna 81-78.

“We built enough good shots in attack. We didn’t have great percentages, but that’s why the defense helped us so much in the second half. It was a match with always minimal advantages, a very difficult match to win even if in the end we were always ahead except for two moments. Having always been there with our heads, possession by possession, decided the match”, underlines the coach of the Italian champion team.

Olimpia Milano finds an excellent Mirotic again author of 21 points with 6/8 from 2 and 6/6 from free throws and a Napier decisive in the last quarter when he scored 11 of his 14 points in his scoreboard with 6 assists. Shavon Shields starts off strong, then finds a couple of heavy baskets in the final (15 points overall) and the impact in the first half is excellent Diego Flaccadori. “In attack we built 15 assists even by shooting badly so in reality the circulation was better. We entered the games earlier and quicker and this helped us”, Messina’s words.

Captain Nicolò Melli was the protagonist of an extraordinary performance in defense (on Shegelia), rebounding (9) and with a decisive block with 7 seconds left on Iffe Lundberg’s last attempt. “He asked to mark Shegelia immediately. I would say that defensively he did an exceptional job, then also in attack he helped move the ball, he rolled deep. There is no doubt that he played a game of great level and great personality.”

On the last throw-in awarded to Olimpia Milano two seconds from the end Ettore Messina explains: “The referees saw the replay and all my players were sure it was ours. I don’t know what else to add. In Game 1, unfortunately we didn’t get a replay on Napier’s last action.”

Thursday 13 June at 8.30pm, game 4 between Olimpia Milano and Virtus Bologna is a championship match point for the hosts.

E7 EMPORIO ARMANI MILAN-SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA 81-78 (29-25; 46-44; 62-59)

OLIMPIA MILANO: Bortolani ne, Tonut 3, Melli 6, Napier 14, Ricci, Flaccadori 12, Hall 5, Caruso ne, Shields 13, Mirotic 21, Hines 2, Voigtmann 5. Coach Messina

VIRTUS BOLOGNA: Cordinier 4, Lundberg 11, Belinelli 10, Pajola 7, Mascolo ne, Shengelia 11, Hackett 2, Mickey 17, Polonara, Zizic 2, Dunston 6, Abass 8. All. Banchi

Notes: 2-point shots: MI 23/42, BO 23/39; 3-pointers: MI 6/24, BO 7/20; free throws: MI 17/18, BO 11/12; rebounds: MI 34 (Melli 9), BO 32 (Belinelli 5); assists: MI 15 (Napier 6), BO 18 (Pajola 10)