MILAN – Captain Pippo Ricci delivered a clutch performance as EA7 Emporio Armani Milano secured an 88-86 victory over Acqua S.Bernardo Cantù in a tightly contested Lombardy derby on Tuesday night. The win comes on the heels of a successful stretch for Milano, including a championship in the Frecciarossa Final Eight 2026 and a challenging EuroLeague matchup against Barcelona. The game, played at the Allianz Cloud in Milan, saw a back-and-forth battle that ultimately went down to the wire.
The contest featured a slightly altered lineup for Milano coach Peppe Poeta, with Diop returning to the rotation while Booker and Ellis were given the night off. Cantù, fresh off a home win against Trento, saw the debut of Fevrier, while Ajayi was unavailable. Former Milano players Bortolani, Moraschini, and Okeke added an extra layer of intrigue as they faced their former team.
The opening quarter saw a physical contest, with Cantù’s Ballo establishing an early presence, scoring quickly and challenging Milano’s Nebo. Bolmaro responded for Milano, and LeDay also contributed early points. A strong push from Milano, fueled by Shields and a key three-pointer from Brooks, gave them a 21-16 lead. Ricci then ignited a dominant stretch for the home side, securing a steal and contributing to an 11-0 run, extending their advantage to 33-20 by the end of the first period.
The second quarter saw Cantù attempt to claw their way back into the game. Fevrier and Green made contributions, but Milano continued to respond. Bolmaro continued to impress, showcasing his skills with a dazzling move and scoring multiple baskets. However, Cantù’s Green and De Nicolao began to find their rhythm, and a late basket by Basile narrowed the gap, forcing Poeta to call a timeout. Milano entered halftime with a 47-41 lead.
The third quarter began with a flurry of activity, as Sneed hit two quick three-pointers for Cantù, tying the score. A seesaw battle ensued, with both teams trading baskets. Nebo and Ricci played key roles for Milano, while Green continued to be a threat for Cantù. A late three-pointer from Ricci gave Milano a 66-63 lead heading into the final quarter. Unfortunately for Cantù, they suffered a blow as Ballo sustained an injury to his hand during the period, forcing him to the sidelines.
The fourth quarter was a nail-biter. Sneed missed a free throw, and Nebo converted a dunk, but Cantù remained resilient. De Nicolao hit a crucial three-pointer, and the score remained tight. Ricci continued his stellar performance, hitting another three-pointer to give Milano a brief lead. Nebo added a tap-in, but Chiozza responded for Cantù. With four minutes remaining, the score was 75-74 in favor of Milano. Ricci then hit a clutch three-pointer, but Bortolani answered with two free throws. A late surge from Cantù, including a sixth three-pointer from Ricci, brought the crowd to its feet. The final seconds were chaotic, with both teams trading baskets. Green’s last-second attempt for Cantù bounced off the rim, securing an 88-86 victory for Olimpia Milano.
Despite shooting a higher percentage from the field (55%) and recording more assists (24-14), Cantù was undone by turnovers, poor free-throw shooting (10/21), and 16 offensive rebounds conceded, which Milano capitalized on to secure their 15th win in the LBA league.
Ricci led the way for Milano with 22 points, while Bolmaro added 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. LeDay contributed 14 points, and Shields finished with 16. For Cantù, Ballo led all scorers with 21 points and 12 rebounds before his injury, while Sneed added 15 points and Green chipped in with 15.
This hard-fought victory demonstrates Milano’s resilience and ability to close out games, even when facing a determined opponent. The team will now gaze ahead to their next challenge, building on this momentum as they continue their campaign.
Milano: Mannion, Tonut, Bolmaro 15+5+4, Brooks 6+5, LeDay 14, Ricci 22, Guduric 6, Shields 16, Nebo 9+6
Cantù: Chiozza 5 with 8 assists, Moraschini 3, De Nicolao 8, Ballo 21+12, Bortolani 9, Sneed 15, Basile 2, Fevrier 7, Green 15, Okeke 1
Next up for Olimpia Milano is a road game against Virtus Segafredo Bologna on March 17th. Fans can follow the game live on LBATV and Sky Sport Basket.
