Olimpia in emergency, Ettore Messina asks for a sacrifice from his people

The words of Ettore Messina on the eve of Olimpia Milano-Baskonia

Coach Ettore Messina spoke in a press conference on the eve of Olimpia Milano-Baskonia, a challenge valid for the 17th day of the Euroleague, scheduled on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. at the Mediolanum Forum. It is also the’last game of the first leg of the top European competition in which Olimpia has collected less than it would have liked and perhaps should have given the two defeats in overtime or the’epilogue of the Berlin game. 

"Baskonia è a healthy team, which plays with confidence, very aggressive in defense and prefers high rhythms in offense where it receives a lot from the two top shooters, Howard and Marinkovic, who execute 16 three-point shots per game – stressed the coach of the Milanese team. We are in emergency conditions, so we will be called to another test of extreme sacrifice in which we will have to help each other both in defense and offense, play with precision and try as much as possible to control the rebounds".

The balance between the two clubs è of 12-11, in favor of’Olimpia. At home, Olimpia è 9-3 against the Vitoria team, while on the road è 3-8. Olimpia won three times in Vitoria, in the 2013/14 season in the Top 16, 83-65 with 17 points by Curtis Jerrells, in 2017/18, 83-82 with 16 points apiece by Andrew Goudelock and Jordan Theodore (who scored the winning basket on penetration), and in 2021/22. 78-64 with 12 points and 10 rebounds by Shavon Shields, 13 by Malcolm Delaney, 12 by Devon Hall. Last year there was a win on each side with the home court factor always respected.