Losing like that hurts so much. Will all the obvious respect for FC Barcelona’s effort and their execution down the stretch, Olimpia had to swallow a tough pill. After leading most of the night, from nine minutes into the game until basically the last three, Olimpia had to surrender 84-80. In the last minute, after a Samuels’ miss, Barcelona commited an eight-second back-court violation that was uncalled and after a scrappy play Nicolò Melli was santioned with an unsual flagrant foul. Barcelona was up by two after the ensuing free throws with less than 7 seconds remaining. But retained possession of the ball. Basically the game was over. Barcelona rode the great game by Mario Hezonja and terrific second half by Alex Abrines. But Olimpia – with no Alessandro Gentile and no David Moss – starting the game with three big men and using every kind of line-up was able to control the game. The biggest lead was 14 in the second hald and 11 in the third quarter. When Barcelona looked ready to explode, Olimpia used all its hearts and was still there, still capable to go ahead in spite of the 25-8 free-throw differential (Barcelona was then great capitalizing it making 23 of them), and two technical fouls called quicky on Melli (for simulating a charge) and to the bench (because assistan coach Mario Fioretti stood up for one second). Daniel Hackett had a terrific game, Samardo Samuels fought and Bruno Cerella was a lion. In the end, in spite of Nicolò Melli’s amazing fourth quarter, Barcelona won. But it’s a tough loss to accept given the circumstances.