Olimpia struggled a little bit to “enter” into the Italian league season, went down 12-3, before regaining its composure and gradually taking control of the game. The defense was crucial in the second half, holding Treviso to nine points in the third period and building a huge lead. The final score was 75-53. It was a great night in a sold-out Palaverde, starting with a memorable standing ovation for Coach Ettore Messina in his return to Treviso. Sergio Rodriguez led the team early in the game, while Shelvin Mack was key in the third period, when he was his usual self. Overall, the defense was the reason Olimpia won the game. Rodriguez led all the scorers with 21 points. Riccardo Moraschini in his first game for Olimpia scored 13 points, “but I’m happy because in the second half everybody helped and we didn’t need a hero to save the night for us,” Coach Messina said at the end, while Rodriguez, Moraschini and Cinciarini gave confidence to everybody, after the rough start. Olimpia hit the ground stuttering, but came back early, went up at the end of the first and got away early in the third when Mack scored, assisted his teammates and led the team. “The same players that struggled early were the same guys that played very well and built the lead in the second half,” Messina said.