A lethargic first period was not enough to doom Olimpia in its last regular season game against Sassari. After scoring nine points in the opening quarter, Olimpia fixed its game, at both ends of the floor, and gradually took over. During the third quarter, took control with Shabazz Napier on fire, making three straight threes and leading the break. At the end it was a 79-67 defensive gem that allowed Olimpia to close the regular season in first place at 23-7 and a five-game winning streak. “I used a different starting line-up looking for certain answers that clearly didn’t come our way. We got confused, we had turnovers. As soon as we implemented a more balance line-up everything was good. Currently, having Voigtmann and Ricci to stretch the floor is huge for us. We started slow but over the last three quarters we scored 70 points against a very competitive Sassari team,” Coach Ettore Messina said.
Shabazz Napier led the scorers with 19 points, Johannes Voigtmann added 16 and seven rebounds; Shavon Shields and Billy Baron also scored in double-digit and Melli added seven rebounds too. But the good news came from the bench. Tommaso Baldasso was useful over an eight-minute stretch. When Sassari came within five late in the third, he made a deep three. And Paul Biligha was simply terrific during both halves. He had eight points, went 3-for-4 from the field, made a couple of big blocks. “They showed us we can count on them during the playoffs,” Messina added.
Olimpia will start the playoff on Saturday at home against Pesaro. Game 2 is set to be played the following Monday, in Milan too. “Our chances will be greatly diminished without the real Shavon Shields. So, this is the time to support him. I’m talking because our fans, that have been great and supportive throughout the season, today were a little impatient and heard when he made a couple of mistakes or passed up a shot. Shields is coming off a big injury, he is healthy and defensively he is already the player he is supposed to be. Offensively, he needs a good game to get his confidence back and we have to help him surrounding him with the right players. But we won’t be a championship team without him at his best,” Messina finished.
