Olimpia Milano goes on the attack and draws the quarter-final series at 1-1: Trento beaten 104-93 in game 2

ASSAGO FORUM (MI) – After Sunday’s defeat, coach Ettore Messina spoke clearly. “84 points had to be enough.” They arrive in race 2 104, seasonal record for Olimpia in every competition. And they are needed everyone. Because, despite the large tear built between the two initial quarters, the defense continues to creak. Transforming the match into a shootout from other longitudes, more suited to overseas basketball than to the tactical and collective one of the Old Continent.

Milan equalized the series by bursting like a river in flood. Launching the heavy cavalry right from the ball, with the best first quarter (35 points) e first half (65) on the season in offensive production. Olimpia plays basketball unusually lively, quick, choral, with great ball movement. Trento, satisfied by the success in race 1, offers minimal resistance. He opens up the center of the area and suffers an immediate penalty 9/9 from two, forged from a drumming start of Nicolò Melli (18 points, 12 in the first quarter alone). And he deserts the front lines in a worrying manner on every single central pick’n’roll action.

Without Billy Baron, tired after returning to the field from the very long stop, coach Messina returns to the classic match plan. It gives more space to Diego Flaccadori (9) but rotate at 9, like in a championship final. The team, rebalanced, shows immediately better cohesion and chemistry. On the contrary. He wallows in repeatedly spearing an opponent who is very distant from the combative one in game 1. Olimpia quickly jumps on +15 (35-20) without even having to bother his big mouth. Nikola Mirotic (10), almost listlessly, will only adjust the scoreboard at the end, to give the decisive whip towards 100.

Shavon Shields (28), ignored for much of the first quarter, fires up like a diesel. Engaging in the further blow that Milan unleashes in the second period. Trento remains in the wake, playing almost like football of remittance. Pushing in semi-forced transition from every basket immediately. It produces, indeed. At the long interval it has already reached altitude 48 away. But he suffered 65granting a chilling 21/29 for two.

The second half continues along the lines of the first twenty minutes. There’s a lot of running. It rolls well. He defends himself little. Very little. Often not even the minimum wage. When Milan begins to show off its classic weapon, starting to hit from the bow with continuity (11/18 in the end), the crack widens to an unbridgeable extent +23 which loosens the reins and spirits even more. Pushed by the pushes of Prentis Hubb And Kamar Baldwin (22 points each), L’Aquila makes a few scattered moments between the two final periods. But the game is long over. The margin deflated below double figures only for a moment in the final, when Milan had now pulled the plug after having signed the record of points with Kyle Hines. This time ready and solid, far from the distracted and nervous one of race 1. Even because Derek Cookea crazy splinter from the first match, flies over the Forum parquet from afar, like a shy albatross.

• Milan: Tonut 7, Melli 18, Napier 6, Shields 28, Mirotic 10; Ricci 3, Flaccadori 9, Hall 11, Hines 10, Voigtmann 2. Ne: Caruso, Bortolani. All.: Messina.
• Trent: Alviti 8, Forray 3, Biligha 9, Mooney 10, Baldwin 22; Ellis 8, Hubb 22, Cooke 7, Hommes 4. Ne: Diarra, Conti. All.: Galbiati.