Olimpia Milano, the reigning Euroleague champions fall at the Forum

Milan - Rises from the ashes of its worst night in the Euroleague (the -44 in Istanbul) to the best night of the year by taking home the victory against the team that won the Euroleague last May. Armani beats Panathinaikos Athens 87-75 thus immediately restoring luster to its continental ambitions. It does so despite a packed “injury bench” (even 17-year-olds Garavaglia and Suigo were on the bench to make up the numbers, so many were absent from a roster of 17 players), but above all thanks to a Zach LeDay in a night of grace who impacts his “carter high” with 33 points (7/10 from 2 and 5/7 from 3), but also by fishing off the bench the Gillespie-Caruso duo who dominates the boards with 15 points and 10 rebounds as a pair. “Thanks to the team and the coach - says LeDay himself still drunk with joy after the great game - in my game I try to control what I can control and to put my warrior mentality on the field. Against the European champions we knew we would have to do our best and that's what we did tonight”. Milan starts well with Gillespie energetic under the boards and Mannion author of the free throws for 13-11 at 5'. Panathinaikos, on the other hand, suffered a decidedly hot Nunn, so the challenge remains in contact at 15-16 for the Greeks. With Dimitrjevic the red and whites close the first period ahead (17-16), then they also reach 21-16 again with Gillespie, but with two consecutive triples and an assist Sloukas props up the Athenian overtaking at 21-24 at 12'. Milan's response is entrusted to LeDay, now it is the American who puts in two bombs in a row and the inertia changes again (27-24). The Forum goes crazy when the wing produces another 4 points for a 10-0 entirely marked by him who launches the EA7 (31-24). “Pana” gets closer at half time 39-37 always led by the wisdom of Sloukas, ties at the beginning of the second half (39-39), but Milan is on the ball and goes back ahead 46-39 with Mannion. The same, however, with two consecutive turnovers rekindles the Greeks who get closer (54-48). From the bench Milan finds a Caruso who definitely holds his own under the benches, scores, takes rebounds and defends, thus bringing the EA7 even in double advantage figure on 61-50 at 28'. In defense Olimpia rotates perfectly, recovering several balls that they then convert on the other side of the court arriving at 66-50 at 30'. The Greeks are in an emergency so they immediately rely on "doctor" Sloukas who instantly lights up the game (68-59) with 3 consecutive bombs. Armani instead fishes Gillespie's baskets from the garbage and returns to safety (74-59). Pana relies on Nunn (74-65), but the Forum can finally explode when for the umpteenth time Zack LeDay strikes from the arc making his Armani fly away at 80-67 without looking back. Then on Sunday, the red and white week ends waiting at the Forum for Openjobmetis Varese for yet another edition of the most heartfelt derby in Lombardy. 

EA7 EMPORIO ARMANI MILAN-PANATHINAIKOS ATHENS 87-75 

MILAN: Dimitriejvic 4, Mannion 14, Bortolani n/a, Garavaglia n/a, Tonut 2, Bolmaro 6, Brooklyn 3, LeDay 33, Suigo n/a, Caruso 4, Shields 10, Gillespie 11. Coach Messina

ATHENS: Kalaitzikis, Brown, Sloukas 22, Osman 12, Samodurov, Papapetrou, Grant 5, Nunn 18, Gabriel 4, Antetotokounmpo, Hernangomez 5, Mitoglou 9. All. Ataman