By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
A disappointing first half for AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan turned into a big win, 78-70, over Real Madrid Friday.
Ex-Real Madrid player, Sergio Rodriguez highlighted a dominating second half scoring 18 points out of his game-high 25 points. He also dished seven assists handling a larger role after Malcolm Delaney went down to a left ankle injury in the first half. A career-high 37 PIR paints the rest of the picture.
“We are very happy for the fans, for everybody. We are working well,” he said after the game and moved on to a family addition, “Big news at home! We are going to have another child, a ‘mini-Chacho’, so I am very happy. I want to thank my wife for the incredible work she is doing, and happy birthday, Ana – 31 tomorrow! Ciao!”
Shavon Shields threw in 19 points of his own with the hosts coming back from a 14-point deficit despite missing Kevin Punter and Vladimir Micov for the whole game and Delaney for the majority of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 4 contest.
“We missed three important players and I think the team made a tremendous effort,” pointed out head coach Ettore Messina, “They have to be extremely proud of themselves. They did it on both ends, taking responsibilities on offense and, I think, passing the ball much better, finding good shots. Our defense was much better. We really had a lot of energy in the second half. What can I tell you? I am extremely happy, like a kid! But I think Delaney’s sprain is serious. He will miss some time, for sure.”
The victory snapped a 14-game losing streak to the Whites actually wearing blue jerseys Friday. Early January 2009 marked the last win.
“We just played really well in the second half and showed that we can play with anybody,” said Shields focusing on the turnaround, “We need to try to forget the first half and take what we did in the second half into the rest of the season.”
Looking extremely safe throughout the first half, Madrid dropped the first seven points of the second and failed to recover after losing the lead. Trey Thompkins registered a team-high 15 points. Alberto Abalde posted 14 points.
“When you look at the stats, I think it is very clear that our turnovers killed us,” noted Pablo Laso, “There is no team that can win with 17 turnovers and that is something we have to improve. We moved the ball well and 16 assists but our ratio is not that good because we turned the ball over too much. I am, for sure, disappointed because we lost the game, but at the same time I saw a lot of good things that the team did, despite those 17 turnovers that were crucial for the result.”
Messina’s team improved to 3-1 sinking the opposing side to 1-3. Next week’s Round 5 features Milano on the road versus Zenit Saint-Petersburg Thursday and the Spanish club against arch-rival FC Barcelona Friday.