Final Eight Coppa Italia: Milan overwhelms Venice but Ettore Messina doesn’t want to stop

Final Eight Coppa Italia: Milan overwhelms Venice but Ettore Messina doesn’t want to stop

At the Inalpi Arena in Turin the first semifinal of the Final Eight of the Italian Cup the EA7 Emporio Armani Milano overwhelmed Umana Reyer Venezia 100-77 with 28 points of Shavon Shields and 17 of Shabazz Napier, on the other side 18 points of Mfiondu Kabengele.

Here are the words of Olimpia coach Ettore Messina after the match, the Italian champions await the winner between Unahotels Reggio Emilia and Generazione Vincente Basket Napoli.

"Considering the level of the opponent I am happy, è it was one of our best games. It seems to me that in the last 10/12 in the league we have done well. The team è and must remain humble tomorrow as well, becauseé a complicated match" awaits us.

"I think my team interpreted the game well, they were aggressive on defense and passed the ball well on offense We had an empty moment at the beginning of the third quarter, a little bit; it was to be expected on +23 and a little bit; because they are a good team, very deep. We won, took an important step. Tomorrow we will try to do the best job we can".

"I think Shabazz (Napier, ed) in the last few games had played well from the point of view of serving his teammates, had held the team. And è important, because é if not, we don’t win. Beyond the percentages. Shabazz did this well, but also some important baskets to close the game. He made some very important baskets".

“Flaccadori è he was very good. He made more than one good game this year. He was in a period where è he was a little uncertain on the shot. But today he defended well, ran the team, allowed us to rotate and rest Shabazz. But today everyone played a very meaningful game". 

“The team seems to me to be in good physical condition. Giustino (Danesi, physical trainer ed) and the others are working very well on the players individually. Of team workouts we have very few like all EuroLeague teams, è important to carve out these moments".