Euroleague, Olimpia Milan to Final Four after 29 years

Ettore Messina’s team makes history, Shields leads the way with 34 points, Bayern ko.

Olimpia Milano qualifies for the Euroleague Final Four for the first time in 29 years. Ettore Messina’s team triumphs at the Forum in Game 5 of the quarterfinal series by folding Bayern Munich 92-89. The match’s matador was Shields with 34 points, Delaney (16) and Hines (12) also did well.

Now Milan will play for the title of European champion in Cologne: Cska Moscow, Anadolu Efes and Barcelona the rivals.

After a good start by Bayern, Olimpia thanks to an excellent Shields closes ahead the first quarter 24-22, and in the second one it places an 11-0 break that forces Trinchieri to the tie-break. Jajuan Johnson and Reynolds kept the Bavarians on their feet, but at halftime it was +10 Milan (50-40), with 18 points by Shields.

Still Shields unleashed in the third quarter, Bayern could not keep up with Messina’s team, which touched +14 before the last partial.

In the last quarter of the game, the hosts fell prey to tension and suffered the comeback of the Germans, who came back down thanks to Reynolds and Baldwin: in the breathless final comes the decisive free throw by man of the match Shields, who closes the game.