A great defensive game against one of the best Euroleague team in three-point shooting, a lot of heart and the big plays in the crucial moments. Olimpia won in Bamberg a critical game to access the Top 16. First road win of the season. A streak of six consecutive Euroleague road games losses was finally broken. Alessandro Gentile had a terrific game, not only for his 18 points (in Istanbul he scored 19 for example) but for his mental toughness and the energy on defense (two memorable blocks). Nicolò Melli punished all the inside help by scoring threes in many key stretches and in the second half, when Samuels struggled inside, was a rebounding machine. Samuels also was very active, Moss made some big play in spite of being plagued by foul troubles, a first half very sound by Curtis Jerrells, a generous game by Chiotti in the fourth period especially. Langford, who struggled throughout the game, hampered by a physical problem, was decisive in the end and was great at rebounding the ball (9). Haynes made a big three in the most critical of the moment. 76-62 is the final score.

 

THE FIRST HALF – Balls pounded inside to Samardo Samuels, there’s a Langford drive and then Gentile scores. 70 seconds into the game and Olimpia is up 6-0. Coach Chris Fleming calls a time-out. The Bamberg answer is strong, when Jacobsen makes a transition three it’s 9-0 Bamberg and it’s coach Luca Banchi’s turn to call a time-out. Bamberg keeps going, with a Markota’s three, the run is 12-0. Jerrells breaks it with a strong drive, Gentile on the break completes a three-point play and Milano is again within one point. Alessandro scores a step-back three, Wallace with a bank lay-up, Samuels again lays it in, the defense is increasing its intensity. At the end of the first is 20-18 Olimpia. Bamberg surpasses to open the second with a Jamar Smith three, but Jerrells keeps driving, Moss works im the post and Melli makes back-to-back three. Olimpia goes up by seven, 32-25 in the middle of the second. Two turnovers and a flagrant foul called on Langford give Bamberg life. Gentile is taking over, makes two foul shots, a driving lay-up and make the assist leading to Samardo Samuels three-point play. Jerrells closes the half scoring on a drive, then Moss steals the ball and makes a mid-range jumper and it’s 10 points up, 43-33.

THE SECOND HALF – Olimpia’s lead goes up to 12 twice, first with a Samuels field goal and then with a Gentile drive. A couple more turnovers, then a long rebound turning into a Markota’s three help Bamberg to weather the storm. In the middle of the third, Bamberg is within seven points, 49-42, then four when gentile after reaching 18 points has to ask for a sub. A Jerrells free throw give some room to breathe. Then Samuels dunks a Jerrells miss and it’s 56-49 again. At the end of third it’s 56-51 EA7. Moss commits his fourth foul to start the fourth period. There’s some fatigue setting in. But the defense is still strong, Melli is a huge presence inside and when the score is 56-54 Haynes makes a three. Keith Langford turns the engine on, draws some fouls, put Bamberg in the penalty and shahves some seconds off the clock. The he scores twice on long twos and push the lead back to nine, 63-54 inside the last four minutes. Anton Gavel scores on a mid-range jumper but it’s just a score between a Chiotti’s lay-up and a big three from Melli after he blocks a Zirbes short jumper. Sharrod Ford completes a three-point play but Langford grabs another offensive rebound, Chiotti does the same stealing more seconds off the clock. And when Chiotti makes a short hook to go up 70-59 with 80 seconds to go, the game is over.