By Cesare Milanti/ info@eurohoops.net
After losing five games in a row in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan managed to beat Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 89-83 being perfect at the line (15/15).
Following a sloppy start of the season, Johannes Voigtmann found his best performance since joining the Italian side in the summer.
The German player went close to a double-double with 16 points and 8 rebounds, shooting 4/6 from beyond the arc, against his former team.
After joining the team recently, Shabazz Napier made his EuroLeague debut with Milan by scoring 10 points. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot was also very helpful with 17 points.
“It’s a nice win, the players really deserve it. The team overall played a good offensive game and competed, with calm. This is the most important thing. We had a contribution from everybody, and we are all happy for Johannes. He showed the real Voigtmann, he’s a real professional”, Ettore Messina said in the post-game press conference.
After recording a monstrous double-double of 19 points and 16 assists in the OT win against Anadolu Efes, Darius Thompson had a losing effort of 19 points.
Rokas Giedratis tried his best with 18 points and 6 rebounds, while Markus Howard scored 18 points but struggled from the perimeter (2/10). Just like Shabazz Napier, the newest Baskonia addition Max Heidegger also made his EuroLeague debut with the Basque team.
“I think in the last quarter we didn’t have the same energy as Milan. They scored 27 points, we didn’t control our defensive rebounds. We are the first team in assists in the EuroLeague, and Milan played solid defense. I think we can pass better the ball”, Joan Peñarroya said after the loss against Milan.
Ettore Messina didn’t have Nicolo Melli due to muscle fatigue, Shavon Shields, Kevin Pangos, who won’t return before February, and Tommaso Baldasso, who broke his hand.
Joan Peñarroya, instead, didn’t have Pierria Henry, whose contract has been suspended after FIBA doping control. He is unavailable until further notice.
In Round 23, Milan (7-15) will play once again in front of its fans against Crvena Zvezda on February 2 at 20:30 CET, while Baskonia (12-10) will come back to Vitoria-Gasteiz to face Panathinaikos on the following day.
PHOTO CREDIT: EA7 Emporio Armani Milan