By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Olimpia Milano were crowned Italian League champions by routing Dolomiti Energia Trento 96 – 71 on the road in Game 6 of the Finals and winning the series 4-2.
This is the third Lega A title for Milano in the last five years and 28th overall in the history of the club.
After delivering the game-winning block in the previous Final, Drew Goudelock paced his team in Game 6 with 21 points and four assists, to win Finals MVP. Mindaugas Kuzmnksas and Dairis Bertans dropped 15 points apiece while Arturas Gudaitis had 14 points plus nine rebounds and Curtis Jerrells 12 points plus six assists to complete Milano’s winning equation.
Dominique Sutton (15 points), Shavon Shields (14 points) and Toto Forray (14 points) scored in double figures for Trento that lost the title at home for the second season in a row.
Milano controlled the game from start to finish and backed by a great shooting from beyond the arc, dominated the second period 13 – 23 to reach halftime up 33 – 48. The hosts, that also saw key player Shavon Shields being benched early with four fouls, cut that deficit to ten, 59 – 69 early in the fourth but never managed to become threatening.
Consecutive baskets by Kuzminskas and Goudelock put the “Red Shoes” up by 15 again and then Gudaitis scored four points in a row for the 64 – 84 to practically seal the win and the title for Milano.
Photo: Olimpia Milano