Olimpia used every ounce of energy left in its fifth game over a nine-day span and prevailed 94-89 in Desio, against its archrival Cantù. Josh Nebo was in his dominant version, finishing the game with 22 points and 12 rebounds, six of them offensive boards. He shot 10-for-12 from the field. When Cantù led for the first and only time at the end of the third period, Nebo in the fourth started the quarter with a dunk and a three-point play, his second of the night. “He gives us a lot of gravity, the connection between our guards and him is crucial to ignite him on dynamic situation, the ones he is at his best. He can be another go-to guy offensively for us,” Coach Peppe Poeta remarked at the end. Honestly, he was activated by Marko Guduric, who orchestrated the offense in the fourth quarter, acting as a point-guard and moving the ball, drawing fouls, making free throws and activating Nebo particularly. In the end, when Cantù was able to come back from a 10-point deficit to three and finally went within one, Guduric got fouled and made the free throws. He finished the job with two more fouls shots. Cantù was able to scare Olimpia when one turnover and a missed shot gave the home team the chance to come down offensively to win the game. Shavon Shields (who struggled at shooting the ball – 2-for-11 on twos – but dished five assists and grabbed eight rebounds) defended perfectly on Xavier Sneed forced him into a decisive turnover. Olimpia led 11-2 to start the game and by as many as 12 points in the first half and 10 in the second, but couldn’t put the game to bed. “They played a very resilient game, I’m not surprised at all,” Poeta said after the game. With Giordano Bortolani in his best version, 21 points, and the addition of Erick Green, Cantù forced itself to stay in the game. Oumar Ballo was not a huge factor offensively but clogged the middle defensively altering shots that only Nebo could convert all night long. “We didn’t finish the game when we could – Poeta said – and this is what gave Cantù a chance. We were at an all-time low in terms of energy but closed the game off and was not granted. Winning four of five in these situation was great. My hat off to the guys.”