The final possession pretty much exemplifies Olimpia’s night and will to win. After a Sergio Rodriguez driving lay-up, necessary to cancel Alexey Shved’s three and put Olimpia back ahead 79-78, there were 13 seconds left in the game., following the time-out. Olimpia’s defense was executed perfectly. Khimki moved the ball around, but couldn’t find time and space to take a shot. So Olimpia won the game and the Cagliari tournament. Sergio Rodriguez, who  scored 25 points again, was named MVP. Olimpia showed a lot of desire, coming back from 13 down early in the game, and responded to at least three or four Khimki’s attempts to take away. The last four minutes were a duel and Olimpia came up on top, in spite of losing Aaron White in the second quarter after hitting the stands hard while saving a ball. Olimpia had to play Kaleb Tarczewski almost 37 minutes, Micov had to play at 4 in spurts and Burns has a very generous game grabbing eight rebounds. It was a team effort. And in the end Shelvin Mack read the defense and the situations well earning four trips to the free throw line to convert all of tthem.

THE BOXSCORE

A|X Armani Exchange Olimpia Milano-Khimki Moscow Region 79-78 (17-29; 37-36; 60-58)

Olimpia: Gravaghi, Mack 9 (0/8, 9/10 ft, 4 reb, 3 ast, 2 stls), Micov 12 (3/8, 4/5 ft), Moraschini 14 (5/9, 4 stls), White 2 (0/2, 3 reb), Rodriguez 25 (7/18, 6/7 ft, 6 ast), Shashkov, Tarczewski 8 (2/5, 8 reb.), Cinciarini 3 (1/7), Rey 4 (2/2), Burns 2 (1/3, 8 reb). Coach: Messina.

Khimki:  Shved 14, Booker 8, Timma 23, Monia 6, Gill 3, Yakushin, Evans 6, Bertans 8, Volkhin 10, Barashkov 2. Coach: Kurtinaitis