After an unexpected week off, due to the EuroLeague’s Maccabi game suspension, Olimpia will return to the court to face Reggio Emilia at home on Saturday, coming off the loss in Naples, and right before embarking on a very demanding week ahead. After playing Reggio Emilia, Olimpia will be host to Olympiacos, will fly to Madrid, and will complete the week on the road again, in Tortona. Nicolò Melli will face the team from his hometown, the team he played on when he was a young prospect.

Reggio Emilia is a red-hot team, just like Naples was one week ago. The team coached by the experienced Dimitris Priftis is counting on a bunch of European leagues veterans as Briante Weber, Jamar Smith, Michele Vitali who’s shooting 70 percent from three so far, Kevin Hervey, and Darion Atkins, sustained by talented Langston Galloway, a perimeter player with more than 400 appearances in the NBA under his belt. So, expect a veteran team who won’t be easy to impress and will demand a great, solid, focused effort by Olimpia.

“They are coming two very convincing wins. For us it will be crucial how well we’ll handle the ball and build good shots against aggressiveness and strategy, because it will impact the quality of our transition defense – Coach Mario Fioretti said after the last practice session – Defensively we need to stay together against their talented players such as Langston Galloway, Jamar Smith, Kevin Hervey and obviously Michele Vitali.”

After spending the week in the gym, Olimpia will have more energy than it showed in Naples although it will still be a little short-handed with the guards since Billy Baron will be out for a while and Maodo Lo has yet to recover from the injury reported during the opening night.