Olimpia started the Italian League regular season on a high note prevailing in Cremona 76-60 while overcoming ice-cold shooting (6 for 22 from three) and 19 turnovers many of them unforced. Milan won because its commanding effort at the defensive end of the floor keeping Cremona under 30 percent from three and allowing merely 60 points. Besides Olimpia controlled the boards 43-32 thanks to another impressive outing by Arturas Gudaitis. The Lithuanian center had a double 17 game and was unstoppable in the paint. Olimpia took the lead for good in the second and never relinquished it altough Cremona never gave up until the last three minutes.
“We won the way we anticipated – Coach Pianigiani said – by defending well and eliminating their three-point shooting because their coach is very good at creating opportunities to score from familiar situations. We did a great job and won in spite of missing many open threes or having too many unforced turnovers”