By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Coming back with pride in the third quarter and extending the lead in the last ten minutes, Valencia showed no mercy against Milano, which wasted an 11-point lead found before halftime. The Spanish team broke a three-game losing streak by winning 84-72, getting two wins away from the Italian team in 11th place.
Valencia‘s technical leader Chris Jones had one of those nights at home, ending with 15 points (5/ FG), 5 rebounds, and 6 assists.
In the second game against his former Italian team, Brandon Davies ended with 15 points and 4 rebounds, putting on a real showdown with Nicolò Melli under the rim. The former Virtus Bologna player Semi Ojeleye added 14 points and 7 boards.
Asked about the second unit’s effort coming off the bench to take down Milano with the help of Jaime Pradilla – who finished with 4 rebounds, 4 steals, and a clutch three-pointer – and Kassius Robertson. “We weren’t playing well in the first twenty minutes. The whole team played great with very good energy”, Valencia’s head coach commented in the post-game flash interview.
Devon Hall was the true protagonist for his team with 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Shabazz Napier added 20 points in one of the best games since coming back to Italy. Rodney McGruder, who last played with the Detroit Pistons in the NBA, made his debut in the EuroLeague with the Italian powerhouse with 4 points. Being absent since Round 16, Shavon Shields scored 8 points.
“A festival of horror”
“We had an 11-point lead and at that moment we completely stopped playing, we started a festival of horror. We have to take responsibility because we missed a great opportunity”, Ettore Messina shared his disappointment after the defeat on the road.
After perfect balance in the first quarter (21-21), Milano created separation in the second by increasing the gap minute by minute, going at halftime up by 8 points (40-32). In the very last minutes of the third quarter, however, Alex Mumbru’s team had a 13-0 run to get back in control. Midway through the fourth quarter, Ettore Messina’s team regained the lead but Valencia 13-0 run to escape.
In the EuroLeague Round 23, Milano (9-13) will come back within friendly walls to face another Spanish team like Barcelona. Valencia (11-11), instead, will play the following three EuroLeague games at home against Baskonia, Crvena Zvezda, and ALBA Berlin, starting from Vitoria. They will both play on January 26 at 20:30 CET.
PHOTO CREDIT: EA7 Emporio Armani Milano