Olimpia Milano stretches Virtus Bologna to 2-1, Ettore Messina: “It’s just another step in a series that is very difficult”
“The support of the public was very important, and I want to thank him, especially in times of difficulty which is what makes the difference. I don’t know how much it affected in the beginning of the game, but it’s never easy to play these games, so it definitely gave us a boost. I hope to see him again so many more times, not only in this series, but also in the future. “ Coach Ettore Messina thanks the 12 thousand of the Forum (12,331 to be precise) and the warmth they transmitted to the team in the 94-82 victory of Olimpia Milano against Virtus Bologna. A beautiful and very heavy success that brings the final series to 2-1 for the Ax Armani Exchange. “Today we kept on rebounding, which is the important thing, then Nicolò Melli was aggressive in the attacking half which allows us to make Shengelia work also in defense otherwise he uses that half of the match to catch his breath and in attack it becomes difficult to contain him. that the bench, as it has almost always done in these playoffs, has been almost equivalent to the top five in terms of performance. If we manage to extend the rotation obviously we have a few more chances “, is his analysis in print. Messina underlines: “It was fundamental that Jerian Grant, apart from the points, often carried the ball. Having so many players able to carry the ball and get us into the games well is important not to squeeze Rodriguez too much.” Milan ahead 2-1, the championship challenge with Bologna is still long: “It’s just another step in a series that is very difficult, Race 4 will be too because it is human that this is the case”.
Shields-Melli-Grant drag Olimpia Milano into race 3
Jerian Grant (photo Ipa)
L’Olimpia Milan deservedly wins in an evening in which he shot with a generous 54% from the field. A team success, with a Melli amazing (22 points – 15 in the second half – with 7/11 from 2 and 2/2 from 3, Nik is not only devastating in attack, but also super in defense), mvp of the match. Alongside him a great performance of Shavon Shields (19 points: in the first twenty minutes he is the engine that makes Olimpia run fast) and a Jerian Grant with applause (14 points, a lot of energy across the board and he is unleashed in the third quarter with 7 points in a row, he is one of the men decided in the extension that brings Olimpia to +10 when there are 10 minutes to go) and 12 from Gigi Datome. But in the Milanese victory there is also an excellent Hines (6 points, 3 blocks and 5 rebounds), quality minutes (13) by Bentyl (8 points 5 rebounds), the assists of the Chacho Rodriguez (8 and 8 also points). At Virtus Bologna in Scariolo, 18 points from a great player are not enough Hackettthe 14 each Belinelli And Theodosic (in addition to 10’s Shengelia).
Ettore Messina and Nicolò Melli (photo Ipa)
Olimpia Milano, Melli: “Intense match, win the next one too”
“It was an intense match, we did well in defense despite Bologna scoring 82 points. Now it will be important to win the next match as well, since in the first match we immediately snatched away the home factor from our opponents. Today there was a wonderful atmosphere. here at the Forum, we want it to be the same on Tuesday “, he explains Nicolo ‘Melli at the end of Race 3 of the championship final between Olimpia Milan And Virtus Bologna. The red and white winger scored 22 points with a 7 out of 11 from two points and a 2 out of 2 from three, taking the title of MVP of the race.
Shavon Shields (Ipa photo)
Olimpia Milano-Virtus Bologna 94-82 (match report)
AX ARMANI EXCHANGE MILAN: Ricci, Biligha 2, Hall, Baldasso 3, Alviti ne, Melli 22, Grant 14, Rodriguez 8, Shields 19, Hines 6, Bentil 8, Datome 12. Coach: Messina.
VIRTUS SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA: Pajola, Alibegovic 3, Sampson 5, Weems 7, Cordinier 3, Tessitori ne, Mannion ne, Belinelli 14, Jaiteh 8, Shengelia 10, Hackett 18, Teodosic 14. Coach: Scariolo.
REFEREES: Lanzarini – Mazzoni – Attard
NOTES: partial 31-27, 48-45, 78-68. Free throws Milan 15/19, Virtus Bologna 13/16. Released for five fouls: none.
On Tuesday 14 June at 20.30 Race 4 is scheduled again at the Mediolanum Forum in Milan.
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