The Italian Supercup is coming back to Milan. Olimpia defeated Virtus Bologna 98-96 with a marvelous 10-0 run in the overtime turning a five-point deficit into a five-point lead that proved to be decisive. It was a beautiful outing, because Olimpia struggled mightly in the first half when everything went Bologna’s way. Virtus made six three-pointers in the first quarter and led by as many as 16 points, 45-29, in the middle of the second. “The key for us was right there – Coach Ettore Messina said – We didn’t lose confidence, we kept playing our game both ends of the floor. The second half was way better.” When Bologna was on fire, with Clyburn, Tucker and Morgan, with Shengelia attacking the rim and Zizic using his post-up game, Josh Nebo first (four first-period floaters) and Shavon Shields in the second quarter kept Olimpia vaguely in the game. The third period changed completely the outlook of the game. “We moved the ball better, we directed the ball where it should go, we defended a lot better,” Messina pointed out.
Nikola Mirotic after a scoreless first half had a dominating third quarter when he scored 15 points and allowed Olimpia not just to come back but to tied the game up twice before Nebo with a backcourt steal scored the dunk that put the team ahead for the first time essentially. However, Virtus shook itself up a little bit, closed the third quarter up by five trying to stay in control. The fourth quarter was a fistfight. Olimpia struggled with foul trouble. Mirotic was called with the third and a fourth with a technical; Shields suffered the same destiny. So, it was Leandro Bolmaro’s time. He made a long two; Dimitrijevic tied the game up again with a huge three and finally Mirotic with another three put Olimpia ahead by three. But it was not over. Not at all.
Matt Morgan made four free throws while Olimpia didn’t score for two possessions. Mirotic had to spend his fifth foul on Will Clyburn to stop the clock. The Bologna’s superstar made only one free throw out of two. Olimpia had one last chance, down by two. Shields attacked the rim, launched a mid range tough shot that Nebo corrected with a big dunk with five seconds left. Virtus didn’t score and Olimpia forced the overtime, 84-84.
Again the overtime was full of events. After a momentary Olimpia’s lead, Achille Polonara came out huge. He made a shot hook, he blocked a Nebo’s dunk from behind and made a three pushing Virtus ahead by five points. The lead looked to be decisive. It wasn’t.
Zach LeDay, replacing Mirotic in the overtime, made a transition three putting pressure on Bologna again. On the ensuing possession, he put his hands on a rebound, was fouled and went to the line to make two and tying the score once more. Finally, the defense step up. Bolmaro made a three. The defense step up once more. Bolmaro was fouled and made the free throws. Olimpia had a 10-0 run and won the game 98-96.
Neno Dimitrijevic was the MVP, after a 16-point, six-assist effort in the championship game. “He is a guy who matured a lot in Kazan where Coach Perasovic, an excellent coach, gave him confidence. Now, he’s older and more mature and showed it on the court. We chose him and Bolmaro because they are complementary players, they can coexist. In our dream, they will replicate the Rodriguez-Delaney combo with time,” Messina said.
