Olimpia had an impressive demonstration of courage, intensity and used a lot of heart to defeat its own problems (nine players missing including Dairis Bertans, a late scratch) and Fenerbahce in the Cagliari Tournament second day. 79-74 the final score: Olimpia came back late in the first half, took the lead and never looked back. In the second half, it never trailed, built also a 16-point lead and held off Fenerbahce’s late rally. The Turkish team had seven players missing (Sloukas, Melli, Datome, Kalinic, Vesely, Duverioglou and Mahmutoglou), so the game was not indicative and doesn’t mean anything. But the emergency situation was way more problematic for Milan so to be able to respond to the challenge was surprising, encouraging and impressive at the same time. Mike James played the entire game but 10 seconds late in the third. Fenerbahce chased him all over the floor, doubling him everywhere and forcing him to move the ball. That’s why his all-around game (17 points, 11 assists, six rebounds and five steals) was amazing and why his ability to stay on the floor, against the tag-tandem of Tyler Ennis and Bobby Dixon, was much more surprising. Vlado Micov also played 37 minutes and was able to punish Fenerbahce defense any time he was slightly open. He had 27 points and seven assists too. Olimpia was great when, with Tarczewski anchoring the middle, controlled the boards against Joffrey Lauvergne.

THE BOXSCORE

Fenerbahce Istanbul-A|X Armani Exchange Milano 74-79

Fenerbahce: Hersek, Ennis 10, Biberovic 4, Arna 7, Minchev, Guduric 2, Guler 5, Dixon 22, Lauvergne 22 (10/16, 6 reb), Omic 2. Coach: Obradovic

Olimpia: James 17 (5/11, 2/8, 6 re, b11 ast, 5 stl), La Torre, Shashkov 8 (1/1, 2/5, 6 reb), Fontecchio 8 (4/7, 0/4, 5 reb), Babilodze, Micov 27 (2/4, 6/7, 7 ast), Tarczewski 9 (2/3, 5/11 ft, +17 plus/minus), Maras 2 (8 rim). Coach: Pianigiani