By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
ASVEL started the game hot, but EA7 Emporio Armani Milan managed to fight back in its first 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season game, getting the 69-62 away victory.
The Italians had in Billy Baron and Nicolò Melli its most valuable elements in Astroballe. The American shooting guard, who is coming from a great season with Zenit, debuted with Ettore Messina’s team in the EuroLeague with 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists, getting a perfect 4/4 from three-point range.
“You always want to start the EuroLeague season with a win. It’s nice, especially on the road. We started off slow. We made everything tough. It was a good win for us. Absolutely, the defense made the difference. They came out strong, they hit us in the mouth quick. Once we got adjusted to that, and just kept our man in front of us, we were really good at communicating, getting back in transition, and keeping the ball in front of us”, Billy Baron said after the game.
Olimpia’s captain scored 16 points grabbing 4 rebounds as well. In his first-ever EuroLeague game, Stefano Tonut had 8 points and 4 rebounds, providing a key boost.
“I think we competed. We had an awful start. We were not doing the right things against them, De Colo was really attacking us. But I think we stayed there, we competed, we did not give up, and the players really reacted with a lot of energy. The veterans really took responsibility on a tough night for most of them. It is a good start, but we have a long way to go. We have to work hard to get better and better”, Ettore Messina said after the game.
Nando De Colo had a bright night in his first EuroLeague game playing at home with a French team, as he finished with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, shooting 6/13 from the field but also recording 6 turnovers.
Youssoupha Fall was the second-best player on the court for TJ Parker’s side, as the Senegalese center was essential in the first quarter run. He left the court for an injury in the last period, ending with 11 points and 4 rebounds.
“We had to score more points. We are at home, 62 points. Things got a little bit too static. I know they are physical. They scored 69, but we made too many mistakes. Too many mistakes in the EuroLeague, you have to pay for that”, coach TJ Parker said after the game
Despite being ahead by 15 points in the first minutes of the game, ASVEL couldn’t keep up the rhythm against the reigning Italian champions, allowing the opponents to reduce the gap and take the first lead in the third quarter. Both teams didn’t have the best night shooting threes (6/18 for ASVEL, 8/23 for Milan) and losing the ball (17 turnovers a piece).
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan was missing Gigi Datome, Nazareth Mitrou-Long, Tommaso Baldasso, and Shavon Shields due to injuries. ASVEL, instead, had to sideline the newcomer Parker Jackson-Cartwright.
PHOTO CREDIT: EA7 Emporio Armani Milan