Olimpia MIlano, Kyle Hines celebrating after expulsion.

Kyle Hines’ words.

All seemed lost for Olimpia, which slipped to -17 at home against Monaco, when Kyle Hines was ejected in the third quarter but paradoxically the center’s exit from the court woke up the meneghini, who were able to come back and win.

Hines himself commented on Instagram about the resounding success over Monaco: “Fighting and believing. Well done guys. Congratulations to Mario Fioretti for his first win. Thanks to the Forum for the energy that propelled the boys to victory. Let’s keep building. Together.”

Last season, Ettore Messina’s team returned to win the scudetto, shaking it off Virtus Segafredo Bologna. The Biancorossi, who had finished in second place right behind Sergio Scariolo’s team in the regular season, immediately brought the court factor to their side in the final series and never let the Felsinians catch them again. In the Euroleague, Sergio Rodriguez (who said goodbye to the Red Shoes in the summer to return to Spain) and his teammates were eliminated by Ergin Ataman’s Anadolu Efes, who would win the tournament for the second year in a row.