Dolomiti Energia Trentino falls at home against the battleship Olimpia Milano 68-83 and is now down 2-1 and with its back to the wall in the best-of-five series: the Playoff quarter-finals arrive at the Il T daily Arena and offer a match- 3 less lively but at least as intense as the first two episodes played at the Forum. Lower score but atmosphere of pure adrenaline in a sold-out and enthralling arena on several occasions: 12 points from Matt Mooney and 12 from Prentiss Hubb (all of which came in the first half) were not enough for Dolomiti Energia; Kamar Baldwin also scored in double figures (11 points, seven rebounds and five assists).
The playoff quarter-final series now continues with game 4 which will be played in less than 48 hours on Sunday 19 May at 6.00 pm. Tickets are on sale online, at the Aquila Store in Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza, 20 and at Vivaticket sales points.
The match report. The Bianconeri transformed the feverish wait for game 3 into a thrilling start between a great defense on Mirotic and consecutive baskets from Mooney and Baldwin (9-2 and Messina timeout). With a triple from Hubb, who had just come on in place of Mooney who had two fouls, the score was 12-5; then Milan increases the intensity of their defense by relying on the Hines “totem” and overtakes them around the end of the quarter (12-15 with a 0-10 break). A three-point play by Cooke restores some oxygen to Trento’s attack, but the first 10 minutes end with the guests ahead 15-17. Three triples from Hubb set the tone for a second quarter which for the home team was characterized by offensive brazenness: Mooney and Forray drove the stadium crazy (29-26), Ellis and Biligha produced a couple of feats around the iron, Captain Forray takes care of the rest, scoring 4 consecutive points (38-30). However, an outburst from Napier once again allows the Red Shoes to stay ahead at the end of the second quarter (38-40). Olimpia wants to run away but finds in its way the ability to suffer and resist from Forray and his teammates: Napier is unleashed but Baldwin and Hommes respond in kind (47-49). A triple from Melli gives the guests the maximum advantage of the evening, after 30′ of play we are 53-58: the last quarter opens with two very heavy triples from Voigtmann (58-68), Toto does not want to let go but the Olimpia controls the operations at the end and closes the accounts. The final is 68-83. On Sunday the Bianconeri will fight to extend the series to the fifth act.
Dolomiti Energia Trentino vs EA7 Emporio Armani Milano 68 – 83 (15-17, 38-40, 53-58)
Dolomiti Energia Trentino: Ellis 8, Hubb 12, Alviti, Niang ne, Conti ne, Forray 9, Cooke Jr. 3, Diarra ne, Biligha 8, Mooney 12, Hommes 5, Baldwin 11. Coach Galbiati.
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan: Lo, Bortolani, Tonut 6, Melli 10, Napier 20, Ricci, Flaccadori 6, Hall 8, Caruso, Mirotic 13, Hines 10, Voigtmann 10. Coach Messina.
The words of coach Galbiati: «I’ll start with dutiful compliments to Milan, which today showed how strong it is. But the compliments also apply to our public and to my players; as long as we had games we were excellent, even if the percentages didn’t help us today. There is a bit of regret, but we played with the right spirit and the desire to maintain our technical identity. We lacked a bit of continuity, a bit of cynicism, the right attention in some moments. Alviti? He had a physical problem, we tried to put him on the field but it wasn’t easy in such a physical and intense match. We hope to recover it for Sunday, at least in part. We will give everything in game 4: we will play to win, we will play to go to Milan in game 5.”
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Aquila Basket Press Office – Marcello Oberosler
