Olimpia comes back from down 14 to the win thank to a 14-0 run that opens the fourth period holding Efes to 12 points. It was a terrific rally. Keith Langford played a dominating second half sustaining a great game by Gentile but spirit, defense, aggressiveness are the key ingredients of the win, driving the 6800 people inside the Mediolanum Forum into craziness. Big win, the third in a row at home in Euroleague compeititon, now Olimpia is alone sitting in second place. Many moments deserve to be remembered during the comeback: two consecutive steals made by Nic Melli with dunks as exclamation points, the five-second violation forced by Gentile, the Gani Lawal’s big block on Semih Erden, the aggressiveness of Curtis Jerrells in the end, the game Langford played both as a scorer and as a facilitator (just one turnover).

THE FIRST HALF –  Terrific start by both teams, high shooting percentages, Samuels is introducing himself with a dunk and corner jump-shot, Savanovic is a problem just like in the Istanbul game. Gentile attacks the rim, Moss makes the first three of the game but Vasileiadis responds. At first quarter mid-point it’s 12-11 Efes. Jamon Lucas-Gordon gets in the zone, makes two consecutive threes (by the way the first two threes of his Euroleague season) and opens up an 8-point lead for Istanbul, flying to 21-13. Olimpia bounces back strong, with two drives by Gentile and two basket by Samuels (short hook and mid-range jumper). Efes closes the first with a Savanovic bank-shot putting them up 23-21 at the end. The second quarter is very close early. Moss and Haynes complete three-point plays. With two foul shots Langford pushes Olimpia up 30-28. But it’s just the introduction to the Efes best dive minutes. They make threes, they establish their physical presence in the middle while EA7 misses too many open shots. The run it’s 11-0. Wallace scores on a jumper but Vasileiadis responds with a three. 41-32 Efes at halftime.

THE SECOND HALF – Olimpia tries to defend strong early in the third but a couple of black-outs allow Efes to respond, including a big three by Hopson. Istanbul builds the biggest lead at 13 but a moment of great defensive intensity is frustrated by a couple of close calls and a technical foul on Gentile. Efes goes up 59-45. Gentile makes a mid-range jumper. Lawal makes a free throw. A great defensive stand by Melli against Savanovic is punished because the loose ball goes right into Planinic hands for an open corner three. Langford completes a three-point play and the statement is coming strong: Olimpia is still alive in spite of being down 62-51 entering the fourth.  Langford keeps going, makes the first three in the fourth, then Nicolò Melli makes two steals and both times flies out on the break to dunk. Olimpia’s pressing is terrific, produces steals while Langford, playing as a facilitator, commands two pick and rolls leading to two thunderous dunks by Lawal. When he scores on a three, again, it’s 65-62 Olimpia, a 14-0 run to open the period. Efes breathes again with two threes by Dragicevic and Vasileiadis and regains the lead. Langford makes two foul shots then another three for a 70-68 lead while in the middle there’s a phenomenal Lawal’s block on Erden. Olimpias takes a three-point lead, 72-69, Erden goes to the line and makes two. Langford at the end of the shot-clock draws a foul, makes two and it’s 74-71 entering in the last two minutes. Scoring is almost impossible, but Olimpia forces three turnovers , Langford draws another foul and scores again. 76-71 is basically the end.a.