Milan Avoids a Slump; Poeta Explains What Worked Against Treviso

Olimpia Milano returned to winning ways after three straight losses, doing so with a decisive 106-77 victory over Treviso on the third day of Serie A play. The Milan team pulled away in the second quarter and then confidently controlled the game, led by Burnell (19 points), Diop (15), and Cole (14).

Coach Peppe Poeta commented on his team’s performance to LBA TV, particularly the shift in mindset he had demanded and ultimately achieved: “We played the game we needed to play. Honestly, beating this Treviso team—which is brimming with confidence—in this way has to give us confidence.”

“We played an excellent game with a smooth offensive flow; everyone was involved. Defensively, too, we showed the right level of aggression, and I’m happy: it’s a small step forward,” continued Poeta, who has faced significant criticism over the past week. “The ‘Italian block’? There’s no such thing as an ‘Italian block’ or a ‘foreign block.’ Everyone knows they have to contribute. The guys played a solid game today, and I’m very happy.”

The three consecutive losses—against Baskonia and Maccabi in the EuroLeague and in Verona in the league—had turned the spotlight on Poeta’s position, with rumors of a possible firing circulating persistently in recent days. The club itself stepped in on Friday to calm the waters, issuing a clear statement through ANSA: “Full confidence in Peppe Poeta.” The club had clarified that it hadn’t expected such a difficult start, but that it had “no intention of replacing the coach who, last season—after taking over the team following Ettore Messina’s resignation in November—won the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia.”