By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
After a game that was close from wire to wire for three periods, Milan started the fourth quarter with a 16-6 run, got a 76-65 lead and that proved enough.
The Italians got the 84-76 win over ALBA Berlin which couldn’t keep up with them in the end. Thanks to this result the winning side is now tied at 12-6 in the third-place of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings with Olympiacos and Zenit St. Petersburg.
“I think in the second half we moved the ball a little bit better, we found Datome for many open shots and he played a really good game”, said Milano coach Ettore Messina. “It’s an important win and I hope we can build on this. Confidence is important but there are other things: defense, offense, rebounding, passing, catching…the confidence has to be there. If you don’t have confidence, you don’t take the court in a EuroLeague game.”
Gigi Datome with 15 points was the top scorer of the winning side, Kyle Hines scored 12 while Giampaolo Ricci, and Nicolo Melli added 10 points each for Milan.
As Datome said: “I think we played a good game offensively, and defensively we stepped up in the fourth quarter. More physical, we denied more, we started rebounding, and on offense we had good looks”.
The hosts led even by 13 (80-67) with Sergio Rodriguez setting the pace with nine points and nine assists on the way to 1500 career assists in the EuroLeague.
ALBA coach Israel Gonzalez admitted: “Once Milan increased their aggression on defense, we couldn’t play like we had on offense. But I’m proud of my players, proud of their effort after 14 days without doing anything. I like the spirit of this team.”
Maodo Lo with 13 points led all scorers for ALBA and Yovel Zoosman with 10 was the only other scorer of the guests in double digits. Berlin has a 6-12 record and the 16th spot in the standings.