In spite of a rotation very strict especially in the front line, Olimpia showed in Bormio a promising face, the one of a team refusing to lose even when fatigue set in (the team underwent a hard athletic workout in the morning, and had two practices the day before), the foul situation was complicated, Monaco played very well and the scoring abilities demonstrated by Joe Ragland and MarShon Brooks two days before were nowhere to be found. The final score was 78-69. Brooks showed exactly what was expected of him. He bent his knees defensively, had a superb block late in the game, mixing great offensive plays with the right approach. Ragland struggled in the first half but improved in the second and had seven consecutive points that open up the game lately. Daniel Hackett made a promising debut and since the big men rotation was very strict, Coach Banchi had the opportunity to use also the small line-up (with David Moss at the 4), give more playing time to Angelo Gigli and to see the scoring ability of the youngster Martin Peterka.
Olimpia was without Alessandro Gentile, who reported on Sunday, Nicolò Melli, who’s recovering from his surgery, Shawn James and Samardo Samuels, sidelined per precautionary reasons. Trent Meacham was cleared by doctors to play but since he had a little ankle injury the day before, was kept on the bench.
OLIMPIA – Ragland 12 (4/6, 1/3), Hackett 9 (1/3, 2/5), Cerella 2 (1/2), Kleiza 10 (2/4, 2/4), Gigli 9 (3/5), Brooks 17 (5/6, 1/4), Moss 10 (2/4 da tre), Peterka 9 (1/1, 2/2).