Thanks to a great defensive game, a lot of hustle plays (including a sequence of three conseutive dives to the floor, by Moss, Hackett and Brooks), Olimpia won the Italy Cup semifinal game against Brindisi, 76-65. After a shocking start, o-7, looking eerily similar to the previous night game, Olimpia was effective at the defensive end of the floor, moved the ball, shared the responsibilities and won, convincingly. Five players scored in double figures, four players grabbed five rebounds, Nicolò Melli was instrumental with his defense (including a terrific block on a Jacob Pullen’s three) and energy; Alessandro Gentile made the smart plays in the second half, attacking the paint and getting to the line where he made all his 5 attempts. And Joe Ragland made a huge basket, in a critical juncture of the game, when Brindisi was trying to comback one more time. And still it was the desire to fight the key to the win. Olimpia will play Sassari, the defending champion, in the final tomorrow at 7 pm. It’s the first final since 1996 when the Cup was won in the Forum.