The last possession, even the last shot, doomed Olimpia once more in the EuroLeague. The fifth defeat of the season took place in Barcelona 74-72 and for the fourth time it was a matter of one possession and one single shot that didn’t go in. Down by one, after a mravelous Armoni Brooks top of the key three off a time-out, Tornike Shengelia made only on free throw out of two. Then Shavon Shields won the ensuing jump ball over Will Clyburn earning his team a chance to tie or win the game. Marko Guduric tried to create off the dribble, was doubled, kicked the ball out to Shields who didn’t have much light to take a good shot. In fact, ut was a prayer that fell short. Barcelona survived.

Olimpia short of three starters once more, had a great first half, leading it from the start, by as many as 11 points. Shavon Shields scored 10 points and Armoni Brooks had 12 including a thunderous dunk that made the highlights of the entire night. Bryant Dunston scored eight points, totally unexpected. At the half, Olimpia led by five points because of two straight threes made by Myles Norris and Will Clyburn to finish the half. “My opinion is that those two threes had a huge impact on the outcome: we had a solid lead but with two shots Barcelona reduced it to a manageable five points and the second half started in a different way,” Coach Ettore Messina remarked.

The second half was a battle. The teams were exchanging leads. “In truth, our defense was not odd enough in the third and we gave momentum back to Barcelona,” Messina added. However, the margins were always minimal. Olimpia struggled to retake the lead because of a bad shooting night from the perimeter. In the fourth quarter, many opportunities on wide open shots didn’t result in anything. “We moved the ball quicky and well in the first half and we did the same in the second but then the shots were hitting the rim. That’s part of the game. But the percentages from three cost us the game,” Messina explained. The score was tied several times late in the game, with Leandro Bolmaro taking charge. Barcelona built a late four-point lead. Brooks reduced it with a huge three. And then it was a matter of a final possession. “We didn’t have the calm to build a good shot, we didn’t need a three necessarily,” Messina said.