Olimpia was inflicted the first pre-season loss by Brose Bamberg in the Trento’s Tournament final. 92-85 was the final score. After a dominating first quarter by Rakim Sanders (who finished the game with an impressive 24 points, 6 for 7 from three), Olimpia lost control of the game in the second period, because of too many turnovers and defensive mistakes, including eight offensive boards allowed to Bamberg. The third period was another nightmare with foul troubles that plagued also Sanders and Milan Macvan calling himself out because of some minor injuries. So without Ricky Hickman and Alessandro Gentile (and Simone Fontecchio), Olimpia was in trouble but had the guts to try a desperate comeback. Twice it went 18 points down but with some solid defenses, the enrgy of Jamel McLean and Andrea Cinciarini, some opportunistic field goals by Zoran Dragic, playing mostly with a small lineup that at one juncture featured Davide Pascolo as a nominal “five”, Olimpia came back within three points with 15 seconds left and obviously came up short.

It was the first loss after five wins. Olimpia played four games last week and now it will have some structure again. The next weekend it will play in Desio two more games. Fontecchio will re-join the team tomorrow, and hopefully Macvan too.