Olimpia Milano dominates the derby against Varese thanks to Pippo Ricci
“It was a win that we obviously needed. I think the boys were good at making a match that wasn't at all seem easy, because Varese is an offensively tricky team, which runs, shoots and scores a lot. If today it seemed less solid than it is, it's their credit. Furthermore, we did it in complicated conditions, with many absences”, the words of Ettore Messina in the press room after Olimpia Milano's victory in the derby against Varese. Game without history (94-63) always in control for the Italian champions.
For Olimpia it was the seventh consecutive victory in the championship and they are six out of six in the return round. A success that allows her to rise to the second place tied with Venezia and Virtus Bologna (defeat to Dinamo Sassari) in view of next Sunday's direct clash on the Black V pitch.
“Ricci was exceptional, but everyone gave something important”, underlines the Olimpia coach when talking about the performance of the MVP of the evening – who achieved a double double (19 points and 10 rebounds, 15+7 in the first half when Milan went to halftime at 54-30) – and of the whole team who he ran well, dominating the derby with Varese.
Ettore Messina (Ipa photo)
On the infirmary: “We plan to recover Napier, Mirotic and Flaccadori already for the resumption of training while Tonut will need a few more days. Poythress had some sort of facial paralysis, perhaps of nervous origin. You sacrificed yourself in Lyon, today we stopped it. We hope to have him back soon.”
On Olimpia Milano Under 18 who reached the Next Gen final (lost against a very strong Barcelona): “They did a wonderful thing, congratulations to Davide Losi, Michele Catalani and all the guys. The final in Belgrade is an extraordinary result. It's a well looked after group, of guys who put in a lot of effort and some of them have the chance to become a Serie A player. For half the match we held our own against Barcelona who have an international level of recruitment, they had six foreigners, and therefore it wasn't easy. But we are very happy with what they did first in Italy and now in Europe. They give us great hope for the future.”
Olimpia Milano returns to the field on Friday 8 March at the Forum against Partizan Belgrade. Sunday 10th at 6.15pm the big Serie A match in Bologna against Virtus.
Olimpia Milano – Varese 94-63 (29-13; 54-30; 81-50) scoreboard
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan: Ricci 19 (10r), Melli 14, Shields 14, Lo 10, Hall 9, Voigtmann 9, Bortolani 7, Caruso 6, Hines 6, Marcucci 0, Flaccadori ne. Coach: Messina Ettore.
Openjobmetis Varese: Mannion 19 (7r), Brown 8, Besson 8, Spencer 6, Moretti 5, Mcdermott 7, Ulaneo 2, Woldetensae 3, Okeke 2. Coach: Bialaszewski Tom.
Referees: Sahin T., Nicolini A., Valleriani D.
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