Game 6 is next. Up to now the home-court advantage has always been respected: Olimpia, in best-of-seven series, has always win its championships getting a win on the road (in Siena in 2014 in Game 6 but entering the game down 3-2; in Reggio Emilia in 2016; in Trento in 2018; in Bologna in 2022, but it took place in Game 1) and it won two of the last three titles, winning it on the road. However, Virtus has its back against the wall and close-out games are always the hardest to win. Over the last three seasons, Olimpia has won seven out of nine close-out games, but lost one of those two in Bologna against a team that has been 17-1 at home in the playoffs over the last three seasons. The level of difficulty of this game is clear, especially after a travel day. In the last two games, Olimpia had two double doubles from Nicolò Melli (second and third of his career in championship series games) and two “over 20” games from Shavon Shields (the fifth and sixth of his career in the Italian finals). Olimpia has built its last two games around the two of them, and getting important help from many different players. After Game 5 Coach Ettore Messina underlined the second half played by Shabazz Napier, the energy coming off the bench from Pippo Ricci and Paul Biligha, the changes made to the starting line-up and to the rotation, but he also anticipated Bologna’s adjustments. Billy Baron has made at least on three in 21 of his last 22 games and has been consistent throughout the playoffs. So far, Olimpia has grabbed 193 rebounds against 159 and held Virtus to 31.6 percent shooting from three. On this data it built the current lead. But each game was different from the others, with different protagonists, as it is expected at the end of the season. The game in Bologna will be number 79 of the season. Olimpia practiced at the Mediolanum Forum in the afternoon before leaving for Bologna in the evening. Tip-off time is 20:30 on Wednesday, Game 7, if necessary, will be played on Friday night in Milan.

GAME NOTES – Shavon Shields has now scored 420 points in championship series games througout his Italian career and sits fourth all-time behind the great Roberto Premier. He is the 8th Olimpia’s leading scorer in the playoffs, right ahead of Nicolò Melli. The Captain, however, has just become the fifth best all-time defensive rebounder for Olimpia, moving ahead of John Gianelli. He is already the third-best shot-blocker and appeared in his 58th playoff game for Olimpia. Only Mike D’Antoni and Dino Meneghin have more.