Nik Melli was all over the floor in the first half, scoring 14 points alone, then plagued by foul trouble made the crucial play of the game with 31 seconds left when he put his hands on a rebound, took the foul and made the free throw that put Olimpia ahead for good. In the closing seconds, Iffe Lundberg missed a contested reverse lay-up, Shields made two free throws and Olimpia controlled the ball after Hackett intentionally missed a free throw trying to extend the game. Olimpia won 82-80 the much anticipated showdown with Virtus Bologna. Melli scored 15 points and added seven rebounds.
Olimpia found itseld behind by seven points early in the game when Bryant Dunston made a three, came back led by Melli, went down by six again off an Abass three-pointer and yet answered back. Not just Melli. Diego Flaccadori with a couple of threes and a steal, had a 10-point first half and combined with a very active Giordano Bortolani to tie the game up and then pushed Olimpia up by four at the half. “We were down by seven early, specters and ghosts were all over the building. We extended the defense, became more aggressive and we managed to finish the first half well – Coach Ettore Messina said – Flaccadori and Ricci gave us energy, Bortolani had to make Belinelli work at the defensive end of the floor. He was scoring on offense and resting on defense. Bortolani made a couple of big shots.”
The second half was when Olimpia extended the lead. With Melli on the bench with three fouls, Coach Messina used Ricci next to Voigtmann in the starting lineup. Voigtmann made a couple of shots, Devon Hall was sharp and Maodo Lo had some big plays. He made a steal, then a corner three. Suddenly, Olimpia looked in total control up by 12 points. “And the ghosts returned – Messina noted – We stopped play and allowed a big run. Same as in Belgrade. However, this time we kept fightint, we fought back. In the end we executed better. Melli made a big play.”
Olimpi trailed by three a couple of times in the fourth quarter, after a 15-0 run. Shavon Shields came back from a tough third quarter to make a huge three that tied the game up. Another mid range shot gave Olimpia the lead back. Finally, he added two huge free throws. “He had some big games for us and today he was cooked. At some point you have to make a decision: replace him because it is not the right night or you stick with him because of the player he is. He knows he didn’t have a great night and still won the game at the end, had 14 points, six assists, rebounds,” Messina pointed out.
