by Sergio Bertazzi
Brescia fights but it’s not enough: in an almost sold-out Forum, with more than 500 Brescia fans following Germani, coach Alessandro Magro’s team is defeated with honor by the battleship Milano. Olimpia is forced to work hard to get the better of a Germani team who manages to stay in the match even after having conceded 7/7 from 3 points in the first quarter and even put their head ahead in the third quarter. But in the end, in a very physical fourth quarter, all the quality of the Italian champions comes out and Brescia without Christon and with Petrucelli not at 100% must lose 83-77.
Germani deserves credit for always remaining in the game, despite the Milanese players’ great precision from the arc in the first quarter (ended 28-21) and the acceleration in the middle of the third quarter (to which Brescia responded with a partial counter from 6-0 which was worth the new overtaking). Germani held her own in the paint, won the rebounding battle and managed to keep Olimpia’s big men under control: what made the difference were the flashes of Shields and Napier who took center stage in the second half.
Brescia suffered well in defence, speculating on Olimpia’s shooting from outside (whose percentages dropped at distance) and giving in only in the last half when Milan increased their physicality a lot with the second quintet and then with the entry onto the pitch of Melli. At that point, all the difference in quality and size emerged that naturally occurs against a high Euroleague roster: a performance of 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists from Bilan is not enough, just as the effort in the two halves is not enough Massinburg field and Della Valle’s 12 points. Germani is almost certain to close the regular season in third place: it can no longer be reached by Venice at 40 points, while the hope of reaching the second place occupied by Milan itself remains alive, considering that the direct clash is still in favor of Brescia (thanks to +8 in the first leg). But, in addition to a victory against relegated Brindisi in the last match at home, we also need a
unlikely misstep by Olimpia at the home of an already safe Cremona.
The match
Rocket start for Olimpia Milano who can’t seem to make mistakes from long range: with the first 4 shots from beyond the arc the hosts escape with a 15-6 lead. However, Brescia is doing well on the pitch and stays there with Della Valle and Gabriel: 15-9. Olimpia never misses from 3 and even closes the first quarter with a stratospheric 7/7 from 3 points: Germani tries to mix the cards with the zone and ride Akele and Bilan well in attack in the area (23-17). Brescia is still -4 at 25-21 but is sent back behind by yet another triple from Flaccadori (28-21).
Germani tries to increase the pace in the second quarter with the zone and with some recovered balls: Burnell’s free throws give the score back -5 (31-26) and Massinburg’s even -4 (33-29). Finally some errors arrive from Milan and Brescia takes advantage of them by trying to run in the open field: Cournooh scores the -2 (35-33) and then the triple for -1 (37-36) is always his. It’s a shame that Brescia missed some opportunities to overtake or attack: but Magro’s team has the right face. Bilan also did well in this situation and Germany closed the first half at -1 (41-40).
Brescia gets the first advantage at the start of the second half with Gabriel (41-42), then Napier gets to work from long range: Milan moves to +5 (51-46), with Brescia remaining in the wake with Bilan and Burnell. In the most difficult moment of the half, however, a 6-0 partial from Gabriel and Massinburg arrives: here is the overtaking at 58-59. Hall and Shields put Milan back ahead: the third quarter ends 64-61.
At the beginning of the last half Olimpia raises the level of physicality and Brescia struggles to find good shots: Germani scores only 4 points in 6 abundant minutes. On the other hand, Shields’ tricks widened Milan’s lead: 4′ from the end at 76-65. It seems closed but Germani scores a 6-0 for -5 with 3′ to go (76-71). Brescia’s offensive difficulties, however, continue in front of a very solid Olimpia and Milan ends it with a triple from Melli: it ends 83-77.
The scoreboard
Olimpia Milano 83 – Germani Brescia 77
(28-21; 41-40; 64-61)
OLIMPIA MILAN: Bortolani, Tonut 5, Melli 13, Napier 19, Ricci 5, Flaccadori 5, Hall 9, Caruso 5, Shields 16, Hines 2, Valentine 2, Voigtmann 2. Coach Messina
GERMANI BRESCIA: Christon, Gabriel 12, Bilan 20, Burnell 4, Massinburg 13, Tanfoglio, Della Valle 12, Petrucelli 8, Cobbins, Cournooh 6, Akele 2, Porto. All. Skinny
