By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Mitchell Watt posted game-highs 16 points, including the win-sealing basket, and 10 rebounds to lead Reyer Venezia to a 67 – 63 win over Olimpia Milano in the first of the two Italian Cup semifinals. Venezia will play in the title game of the competition for the first time in the club’s history.
Venezia, that was trailing by double figures in the first quarter, dominated the third period 13 – 25 to reach the win. The reigning Italian champions went up 44 – 54 at the end of the third period and then pushed all comeback attempts by Milano to qualify.
Milano cut its deficit to 56 – 58 only for Andrea De Nicolao to respond with a triple. Sergio Rodriguez made it 61 – 64 with less than a minute left but that was when Watt scored to put his team up by a two-possession distance with 21 seconds to play. The “Red Shoes” will miss the Final for the second straight season.
Rodriguez (15 points) and Luis Scola (14 points, nine rebounds) scored in double figures for Milano. Apart from Watt, Austin Daye had 13 points, De Nicolao 12 and Mike Bramos 10 points for Venezia.
Photo: EuroCup Basketball