By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Olimpia Milano has been beating one team after the other recently thanks to some truly tough defense, allowing less than 60 points in the last three straight games.
Now, they found out what it’s like to be on that kind of receiving end in the hands of Fenerbahce Beko.
Fenerbahce triumphed over Milano 71 – 60 on the road, forcing the Italian side to their lowest-scoring performance this EuroLeague season and handing them their first defeat after five consecutive wins. Sasha Djordjevic’s players actually held their opponents to just nine points in the final quarter en route to the big win.
Marko Guduric delivered 17 points and six assists while draining a key 3-pointer for the 57 – 65 with three minutes left. Pierria Henry then put Fener up by 10 with free throws and that margin proved safe enough for the visiting squad that still lacks superstars Nando De Colo and Jan Vesely.
Devin Booker had 14 points plus eight rebounds, scoring 10 of them in the first 15 minutes, a dominant stretch for Fener that went up 18 – 34. Milano reacted and made 12-0 run from the end of the second period to the beginning of the third to tie the game at 43.
“We definitely needed this win,” Booker said. It was the fourth straight victory for Fener. “We knew how important it was. It’s a huge victory for us. Hats off to them for fighting until the end. We fought to the end as well, as you could see after the game as well. It was very intense out there for four quarters. They gave us a hard challenge and we accepted that challenge head on and we did what we needed to do to get the win. I think we prepped very well for this game. Like I said, we knew how important it was so we came out here and did what needed to be done.”
Fener kept its cool and retook the advantage with four unanswered points. They never trailed for the rest of the game since Milano was pushed back with small runs every time they tried to get the lead, like the 0 – 6 that made it 53 – 60 in the mid of the fourth period.
Ben Bentil (12 points) and Malcolm Delaney (11 points) scored in double figures for Milano.
“We played a very poor game, from tipoff to the last possession. Fenerbahce deserved to win, so my congratulations to them,” Milano coach Ettore Messina said. “We will try to make up for this loss in one of our games on the road.”
Putting in work on both ends
Djordjevic liked many things from his players tonight but specifically pointed out how well-balanced their performance was with attention on defense as well on offense.
“As soon as the third quarter started, they started with their game,” Djordjevic said. “They tied the game in no time. In 2-3 minutes, we had to call a timeout and get back to organizing both defensively and offensively. I think the guys did a great job energy-wise, focused on both sides of the floor. That’s a great win for us. But it’s just one win. We just have to go for our road, think what is next. That’s it. I’m very proud of my players, how they played. It takes one with courage to have an army.”