Olimpia extended its preseason winning streak defeating Brescia, in Brescia, 90-85 after a very good, competitive game that Milan led for the majority of the time, took over in the third quarter and led by as many as 15 points in the fourth period. It was a very serious and successful test, because for the first time Olimpia played without Lorenzo Brown. The starting point guard during the previous games was rested after a long trip to and back from Abu Dhabi for some EuroLeague promotional activities. So, Coach Messina modified a little the line-ups and rotations. Nico Mannion started as a point guard, Vlatko Cancar started at the 4; so Zach LeDay initially played along Devin Booker, and Cancar next to Josh Nebo. Olimpia struggled when Brescia hit a series of three-pointers late in the second period and shot 3-for-16 from the arc in the first half of the game. But the defense raised its level late in the game and the offense was ignited by some great defensive plays. Leandro Bolmaro was everywhere right from the beginning, disrupted Brescia’s offense at times and gave the team great rhytm. Quinn Ellis was brilliant too, scoring 10 quiet points in the process.
Olimpia led by fifteen when the game looked essentially finished. But Amedeo Della Valle, the great scorer, made a couple of threes so Olimpia who tries to coast to the finish line was a little passive and let Brescia come back within three. Coach Messina called LeDay back on the court and he finished with eight points to preserve the win. He made a mid-range corner jumper, two free throws, converted an Armoni Brooks’ steal and hit two more foul shots. The defensive play that closed the game was made by Armoni Brooks, who dove to the floor, grabbed the ball while on the ground and found a way to pass it to LeDay for the easy dunk.
However, the best news of the night was Josh Nebo’s recital. He was his old physical self, dominated inside, made a couple of at-the-rim blocks, he grabbed 10 rebounds, five under the offensive boards, scored 18 points on high efficiency, converted his free throws. He was definitely the best played on the court.
Olimpia will completed its preseason playing in Crete next weekend and the highest EuroLeague level possible, facing Olympiacos on the first night and one between Fenerbahce and Red Star next Sunday.
GERMANI BRESCIA-EA7 EMPORIO ARMANI MILANO 85-90
Germani: Bilan 12, Massinburg 10, Della Valle 12, Ferrero, Ndour 9, Burnell 17, Ivanovic 12, Mobio, Rivers 11.
Olimpia Milano: Cancar 8 (1/1, 2/4, 0/2, 4 r), Mannion 5 (1/1, 1/5, 3 ast), Ellis 10 (1/3, 1/1, 5/6, 3 r), (Booker (0/2, 0/1), Bolmaro 12 (3/4, 2/2, 1/2, 4 r, 3 ast, 3 stl), Brooks 7 (2/2, 1/2, 4 r, 3 ast), LeDay 16 (2/3, 1/3, 9/9), Flaccadori 2 (1/1), Diop 3 (0/1, 1/1), Shields 9 (2/4, 1/5, 2/2), Nebo 18 (8/14, 4/5, 10 r), Dunston.
