Βy Stathis Trapezanlidis/ info@eurohoops.net
In order to be one, you have to beat the champion. This is what Luca Banchi and his players in EA7 Milano have to do in Legabasket’s finals, if they want to be the new champions of Italy and lay the foundations in order to create their dynasty. Siena is still on the throne has seven straight titles and they don’t want to surrender.
Coach Marco Crespi and his players despite the many economic problems and the uncertain future of the team, qualified for the finals without facing any particular difficulties in the semifinals.
The contender, EA7 Milano, has the home advantage in this best of seven series, but this may not be as important as the fact that EA7 Milano players have the experience to lead their team to the championship as they did it a lot of times in past with Siena. After all, the best way to become better than the champion is to get their players or coaches!
In this idea EA7 Milano relied this summer its plan and added three key players from Siena and also coach Lucca Banchi. So you can easily understand why Armani Milan could be optimistic about the finals, although their last title was won 18 years ago (1996).
They started with a deal with Luca Banchi, who was the guarantee that Milano has the philosophy and principles that is needed for success. It is not a secret that many people this year called EA7 Milano the ‘new Siena’, wanting to emphasize there are a lot of similarities not only in personnel, but also in the style of playing.
Kristjan Kangur and David Moss were the first players, who followed Banchi and some months later when Siena didn’t manage to qualify for Euroleague Top16, Daniel Hackett signed up too. Hackett was the piece which was missing from the puzzle. He gave balance in defense and attack, as Banchi admitted later in his interview to Eurohoops.
Siena lost its best player but not the mentality and the heart of the champions, which were acquired through these seven years. The champs seem ready to assert their title. Indeed, last summer Siena followed the successful formula – the assistant coach of the team became head coach – giving the keys to Luca Banchi’s assistant coach, Marco Crespi. He managed to justify this choice by finishing in second place in regular season and qualifying for the finals for 8th consecutive year!
Armani Milano and Siena’s Numbers:
Armani Milano (25 championships – the last in 1996):
Record 25-5 (1st), score 81.7 points per game (2452p – 2nd best offense)
Averages: 54.2% 2p, 38.4% 3p, 74.4% 1p, 36.7r, 13.8 As.
Siena (8 championships – 7 in a row):
Record 20-10 (2nd), Best defense 76.9 points per game (2114p)
Averages: 53.5% 2p, 35.4% 3p, 78.7% 1p, 33.2r, 13.1 As.