It was a game for the ages that Olimpia finally won 97-93 in two overtimes. It was a battle, consistent with the tradition of this Efes-Olimpia match-up. It is the third road win of the season for Milan, the third all-time win in Istanbul against this opponent. A thousands of moments defined the game. Zach LeDay and Shavon Shields combined to score 49 points overcoming the 37-point monumental effort produced by PJ Dozier. Other players stepped up at the right time, Quinn Ellis, Marko Guduric, Leandro Bolmaro and even the venerable Bryant Dunston.

Olimpia took control between the middle of the third and the early part of the fourth quarter. In the third quarter, a Shane Larkin three gave Efes the lead 48-45 after Zach LeDay came back from the locker room a man possessed. He scored 10 points almost in a row, keeping Olimpia in contention. Quinn Ellis with a three tied the game up with 4:51 left in the third. The rest of the period was a defensive gem: Efes didn’t score again. Olimpia closed the quarter with a 14-0 run and entered the fourth riding a 11-point lead, 59-48. Early in the fourth, the margin grew to 13 points twice. “Then we rished some shots, we gave them the opportunity to score a couple of times and get momentum,” Coach Messina pointed out. Efes came back within seven, before Shavon Shields made a huge three to regain energy for his team. But Larkin was on a mission late. His three cut the lead to four. Then, Efes three consecutive times reduced the deficit to two points. Zach LeDay responded one time. Then for a second time. Finally, he went to the line. He missed his only free-throw of the night (he finished with 7-for-8). Olimpia had a three-point lead. With 30 seconds left, a Guduric floater kept Olimpia in control. However, Dozier made a huge three capping a career-night and the score was tied because nobody found a way to score again.

The first overtime was another battle. Olimpia earned again a six-point lead with back-to-back threes by Shields and Guduric again. In a matter of seconds, Efes placed a 7-0 run and retook the lead. After another huge play by Ellis on a drive, Dozier scored twice and gave his team a three-point lead that look decisive until Shavon Shields hit a huge three from the top of the key tying the game up at 84- A second overtime was required. Shields was on a roll. He made another three. He couldn’t miss because on a long attempt, Devin Booker grabbed the rebound and scored. Ellis built a five-point margin for his team once more. Then he made two free throws. Up by two, Shields made two free throws and finally Guduric. It was enough.