By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
MILANO, Italy – Gianmarco Pozzecco was welcomed by the audience in Mediolanum Forum with a standing ovation, coming back to this court as head coach after his assistant coaching tenure in 2021-22. However, Milano didn’t warm its heart enough, as Olimpia destroyed ASVEL 84-61.
Waiting for Shabazz Napier – who flew today from Belgrade back to the Italian city – to officially return to Ettore Messina’s team, this was once again Shavon Shields’ night, doing it all and ending the game with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals.
“It’s a great team win top to bottom, we turned up the defense after the first quarter. We need to keep stacking up victories”, he said after the win.
The team’s captain Nicolò Melli shot well from the field (4/4 in two-pointers, 3/4 from beyond the arc) to go home with 17 points. Making his EuroLeague debut late in the game, Guglielmo Caruso even scored his first three points in the competition. “
They compete all the time, we knew they were dangerous. Panathinaikos is a huge team, among the favorites to be in the Final Four”, Ettore Messina commented in the post-game flash interview ahead of the next game.
Messina not confirming the Napier transfer
“Anybody who stepped on the court had great energy and desire. The guys passed the ball really well, and we had 14 steals which is a very important number”, he added in the post-game press conference before commenting on the potential return of Shabazz Napier, which was practically announced by Crvena Zvezda coach Giannis Sfairopoulos.
. “I’m glad Ioannis Sfairopoulos is more informed than me. I don’t have any news to give about this matter”, the Italian head coach said.
Being forced to eight turnovers by his former team, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot couldn’t capitalize on a 10-point night for the French side. He was followed scoring-wise only by Joffrey Lauvergne and Paris Lee, who combined for 22 points but couldn’t make an impact. No other useful contribution on ASVEL’s side, with the French team which is now alone at the bottom of the EuroLeague standings.
“I want to thank the audience. Having received such a welcome, it’s huge. We started pretty well, and when Nando came in we were playing really well. I don’t know what happened”, Gianmarco Pozzecco commented on the French veteran’s injury. “We need some help, since I’m here we are playing excellent, we’re evolving. I will ask the club to help the players”, the Italian head coach added.
Gianmarco Pozzecco is welcomed back with applause by Olimpia Milano fans as ASVEL visits Ettore Messina’s team in the EuroLeague 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/ezFiVcFZbF
— Cesare Milanti (@cesaremilanti) December 20, 2023
Starting the game up 5-0 with an elegant two-pointer from former Milano’s forward Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, ASVEL couldn’t keep up the rhythm early in the night, as Ettore Messina’s team rapidly went up 20-10. Following an unsportsmanlike foul by Ismael Kamagate, Nando De Colo and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot extended the French team’s run to 11-0, ending the first quarter only down 22-21.
Milano showed good things with the big lineup that included Kyle Hines and Ismael Kamagate in the first minutes of the second quarter but started to run away at 6:30 with a three off the steal by Shavon Shields for the seven-point lead (33-26). Gianmarco Pozzecco called timeout when Olimpia extended the lead to 37-26 following a 10-point run at 5:14, but things didn’t really change.
Ettore Messina’s team entered the second half with a 12-3 run, writing the exclamation point at 5:45 in the third quarter by getting the 17-point lead (58-39). ASVEL committed too many turnovers, and Milano took advantage of that to mind the gap at 23 points (65-42) with 2:17 minutes before the last quarter, where Olimpia kept dominating the scene, ending with 27 assists and 14 steals.
Ending the double-game week, Milano (6-9) will play once again behind friendly walls on December 22 at 20:45 CET, hosting Ergin Ataman’s Panathinaikos. The black-and-white team (2-13), instead, will come back to France to host Olympiacos on the same day, but one hour earlier.
PHOTO CREDIT: EA7 Emporio Armani Milano