By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Bayern Munich started the new EuroLeague season with a 78-64 victory against visiting AX Armani Exchange Milan, despite a strong return by Luis Scola to the competition after 12 seasons.
“They were more organized, more disciplined for the most part of the game and they deserved to win. We had many ups and downs and you cannot expect to win a EuroLeague game like that”, said Ettore Messina following the loss.
The German team defended its homecourt and pleased the fans in a victory that had Vladimir Lucic and Nihad Djedovic taking charge with 18 and 16 points each.
“Great win for us. I am satisfied first of all with our performance. We played a good game. When Rodriguez came on the floor, it worked good for them, and we had problems in the last quarter. But we played good defense last few minutes of the second quarter, got a few easy points. I am also satisfied because last season our first game was totally opposite to the game today”, commented Dejan Radonjic after the game.
Bayern led the first half 42-34 after a strong 20-11 run in the second period, though the game was far from over. Scola, who stepped foot in EuroLeague again for the first time since the 2006-07 campaign (with TAU Ceramica), greeted the fans with 17 points and six rebounds and overall key performance for the Italians in the second half that brought them to as close as a deficit of two points at 34′.
Still, the hosts once again pulled away with a double-digit lead, until one more short outbreak by Olimpia Milano, though time was finally on Bayern’s side. On top of that, an incredible performance by Serbian international forward Lucic helped the team get away with the victory.
Here are the best plays of an ideal opening game for the hosts
Photo credit: EuroLeague