In the end, Olimpia prevailed 83-82 over Tortona. It was a well-deserved win because Milan led most of the game. After falling down by six early in the end, a big run gave Olimpia the lead that was protected througout the rest of the game even by small margins and with Tortona always able to come back thanks to its hot shooting night. “We played some good minutes, then we had some turnovers, some bad stretch and they came back,” Coach Ettore Messina pointed out. Finally, the last run looked decisive. Olimpia built a eight-point lead late in the fourth after a Shabazz Napier steal and a Stefano Tonut fast-break conversion. A few possessions later, Napier with a shot jumper kept the lead where it was at eight points with 2:10 remaining in the game. “Obviously, we should have done better at that point,” Messina stated.

Instead, Tortona used a mismatch inside to score with Tashawn Thomas. Off a turnover, Candi made a transition lay-up. Napier this time missed his three. On a break Tortona scored again with Colbey Ross. A 7-0 run reduced the margin to one point with 63 seconds left in the game. Another turnover allowed a red hot Ross to make a top of the key three and gain the lead for Tortona.

Fortunately, Devon Hall capped a great night with a big drive and the go-ahead basket. Olimpia then was able to defend very well during the last possession forcing a Ross’ turnover that essentially closed the game. Hall finished with 14 points, he didn’t make a single three, but his drives had a huge impact on the game. He scored 14 points, 5-for-7 on twos, 4-for-4 from the line. “Melli was amazing too. He led us throughout the game. His personal rating speaks for itself,” Messina added.

Melli scored a season-high 23 points, added eight rebounds, went 10-for-11 from the field. Shabazz Napier despite an up-and-down night finished with 14 points and nine assists. Giordano Bortolani added nine points with 3-for-4 from three-point territory. “The first half produced by Guglielmo Caruso was quite encouraging – Messina added – He can extend our rotation from now on, so it was huge. Too bad I dind’t feel like playing him again in the second half. The game was close, I truested the veterans including Ricci. But Caruso played well and showed promising signs.”