By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Defending champions Olimpia Milano didn’t begin the 2024/25 Legabasket season as hoped, losing the opener on the road.
A significantly revamped Ettore Messina squad fell to Trieste with a final score of 84-78.
Colbey Ross led the winning team with 22 points, while former NBA and Milano player Denzel Valentine followed with 19 points. Markel Brown added 18, and Jeff Brooks had 14 points.
For Milano, Zach LeDay posted 18 points and seven rebounds, Nikola Mirotic recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Shavon Shields added 12 points and Leandro Bolmaro contributed 11.
“We lost and did not play well but we must also recognize the merits of Trieste, playing at high level with energy and heart, but also from a technical standpoint with shots, passes, and rhythm,” noted Messina.
Virtus Bologna, on the other hand, narrowly won, 89-88, against Trapani in their season opener.
LBA UnipolSai Round 1
UnaHotels Reggio Emilia – Dolomiti Energia Trento 76-92
Trapani Shark – Virtus Segafredo Bologna 88-89
Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari – Givova Scafati 86-97
Pallacanestro Trieste – EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 84-78
Bertram Derthona Tortona – Vanoli Basket Cremona (17:00 CET)
Umana Reyer Venice – NutriBullet Treviso (17:30 CET)
Germani Brescia – Openjobmetis Varese (18:15 CET)
Estra Pistoia – Napolibasket (19:00 CET)
Heading to Round 1 of the new Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, the Milan outfit visits AS Monaco on Thursday and Virtus Bologna welcomes Anadolu Efes in Unipol Arena on Friday.