Olimpia had a dominating game in Vitoria, had a dominating first quarter, then let Laboral Kutxa rally back from 15 points down but the negative spurt was determined by its own superficial mistakes, a double foul on Lawal and a technical foul generating 10 points combined for Vitoria. But when it’s basketball time, EA7 dominates, gets away, defends and scores. There’s another confused moment early in the fourth after a body slams among Hackett and Pleiss, right before the bench. The Buesa Arena turns on but Curtis Jerrells, impressive (17 points), is the coolest man in the building leading the team out of the difficulties and towards another big win, 83-65, good enough to mean second place in the standing with a two-win lead over everybody else. Fourth consecutive win, second road win in a row, third for the season.
THE FIRST HALF – Olimpia is starting very close defensively. Nicolò Melli makes two steals, grabs an offensive rebound and inspire the first consistent lead, 11-5, that includes an Hackett’s three and two baskets, inside and outside, from Samardo Samuels. Olimpia keeps going after the time-out, with seven straight points by Langford and goes up by 15 twice. Then it’s time for Tibor Pleiss to go working: the German Giant scores 12 points in a moment. He takes a Lawal foul, followed by a flagrant fouls and it’s a five-point possession, getting Laboral Kutxa within si, 25-19 at the end of the first. The run keeps extending in the second. After a Mainoldi’s three, Vitoria incredibly is up 26-15 two minutes into the period. After the technical, Gentile responds with a mid-range jumper and drawing a foul on a three-point attempts leading to two points. Olimpia is again up 29-26. Up for good. Wallace makes two great plays and opens up a six-point lead, 40-34, the nine because of another Gentile’s three and two foul shots by Wallace. With Gentile leading all the scorers with 12 points, Olimpia is up 50-36.
THE SECOND HALF – Olimpia takes a 15-point lead after a Langford’s three but Pleiss is still controlling the paint, scoring 24 by the end of the third and when he gets support from Causeur and Nocioni, Vitoria is again within six. But Milano responds every single time, with Langford first, then Samuels and finally a very inspired and hot Jerrells. It’s him scoring five consecutive points including a buzzer-beating three for a 12-point lead entering in the fourth. Early in the fourth quarter, with 8’56” remaining, Hackett steal the ball from Pleiss, both are getting onto the floor and there’s a mini brawl. Cooler heads prevail but Hackett is bleeding and has to get out while the referees’ decision in a very diplomatic one: flagrant foul for both players. But Olimpia is defending strong and Jerrells scores and scores. EA7 is up by 19 when the closing minutes are very calm although including a Samuels’ three.
