Darius Thompson may return to Italy
For Olimpia Milano, tonight’s challenge against Valencia represents the third-last leg of the Euroleague regular season, in a European season now nearing its conclusion for the red-and-whites. At 8:30 p.m., in the striking Roig Arena, the Milanese team will play as guests for the first time, facing one of the tournament’s most interesting revelations. The Spaniards, in fact, are one step away from the playoffs thanks to a balance of 22 wins and 13 losses, built mainly within their home walls, where Valencia has achieved 14 successes in 17 games, the best performance in the competition.
In Valencia’s house, the direction will be entrusted to Darius Thompson, already followed by Olimpia last summer and destined to remain a target for the next one as well, also by virtue of his Italian passport. The player knows the Italian league well, having worn Brindisi’s jersey from 2019 to 2021, and he also boasts nine appearances with the Azzurri national team.
The situation in the standings for the biancorossi is as critical as ever: Olimpia occupies 13th place, -2 wins away from the tenth that would guarantee access to the play-in. With only three games left to play, only mathematics does not definitively condemn coach Peppe Poeta’s boys, who to hope for a miracle will have to win them all and hope for a collapse of the direct competitors. An arduous task, considering that tonight’s away game looks like one of the toughest on the calendar.
To further complicate Olimpia’s plans, coach Poeta will have to do without several elements: in addition to the long-suffering Flaccadori and Dunston, Diop, who remained in Milan, will not be in the game either. In this emergency context, the offensive weight will fall largely on the shoulders of Armoni Brooks, the team’s most in-form man and already decisive in the recent victory against Reggio Emilia in the league.
On the tactical front, coach Poeta presented the challenge with great respect for the opponent: “We are going to face a team excellently coached by Pedro Martinez, with great offensive potential, a lot of talent among the perimeter players and versatile longs, capable of spreading the court. Especially at home, Valencia manages to be particularly effective. Our first objective ahead of this game is to give continuity to the defensive display provided against Reggio Emilia. It would be a good starting point for us to try to play a good game.”
It is worth mentioning that Olimpia and Valencia have already faced each other thirteen times in their history, with a favorable balance for the red-and-whites of 8-5. The first leg match this season, however, smiled on the Spaniards, making tonight’s also a rematch. After this trip, two more Euroleague commitments will remain for Milan: the home match against Bayern Munich and the difficult trip to Piraeus against Olympiacos, opponents that make the path to the play-in a real obstacle course.
