By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milano scored its fifth Turkish Airlines EuroLeague win in a row taking down Olympiacos, 90-79, Tuesday evening at the Mediolanum Forum.
Kevin Punter set a new personal-best in Europe’s premier club continental competition firing in 27 points, including 13 in the pivotal fourth quarter of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 22 match. The former player of the Greek side made 8/12 from the field, 4/8 from beyond the arc. He also dished out five assists adding on his game-high 33 PIR.
Malcolm Delaney made 10 out of his 16 points from the free-throw line but his second triple of the night stretched the lead to five points with 1:40 remaining putting a dagger on the comeback bid launched by Olympiacos. Sergio Rodriguez contributed to the ninth consecutive W in all competitions since December 30 with 14 points and Luigi Datome with 12 points.
“We kept our composure at the end. They cut it to two points and we went back to what was working,” noted Punter, “We kept our composure and were extra focused.”
The visitors failed to regain the lead after going up 3-2 early in the first period but stormed back from the 18-point deficit late in the second quarter to tie the game at 62 towards the end of the third. They outscored Milano, 28-21, in the third period but could not shape up a similar run in the fourth.
“We have tremendous respect for Coach Bartzokas and Olympiacos, for the mentality they always have. They have won EuroLeagues, they have been in Final Fours,” pointed out Ettore Messina, “They never give up. We knew that, but unfortunately, our defense in the third quarter was so-so.”
“It was a tough game. I think we had a chance to win it,” said the Olympiacos head coach, Georgios Bartzokas, “It was a crucial moment with 1 and a half minutes left at the end of the game, we were two points down and it was a loose ball. They saved the possession and made a really tough shot.”
Sasha Vezenkov posted an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double in the losing effort. Kostas Sloukas logged 17 points and seven assists.
The third consecutive win at home lifted the second-best scoring team in EuroLeague to 14-7. Messina’s side will complete the double-game week hosting Zenit Saint-Petersburg Thursday.
The team coached by Bartzokas downed to 11-11 will look to bounce back with FC Barcelona in Greece Thursday.
Olimpia Milano’s Shavon Shields and Jeff Brooks remained sidelined. On the opposite end, Kostas Papanikolaou was out.