Desio, Italy – Olimpia Milano coach Andrea Poeta lauded his team’s resilience and approach following a challenging derby victory over Cantù on Monday night. Despite several key absences, including Quinn Ellis, Milan secured the win, but Poeta acknowledged a lack of “cinicism” in closing out the game.
The victory comes on the heels of a demanding EuroLeague schedule, including a hard-fought contest against Barcelona. Milan currently sits third in the Italian Lega Basket Serie A standings with 14 wins, trailing Brescia and surpassing Venezia. This win extends their strong recent form, having secured nine victories in their last eleven league games.
“Compliments to them for the great game, we knew it would be challenging given our absences, including the important one of Ellis who gives us so much in playmaking and defense,” Poeta said after the match. “I’m happy with the approach, a good flow in attack at the beginning even if we stopped for a moment, and they were good at staying in the game. Always ahead, we lacked the cynicism to close it out, a limit that we know we have and on which we must work with optimism.”
The game was particularly challenging given Milan’s injury situation. Ousmane Diop is currently sidelined, and Bryant Dunston is expected to be out for an extended period with a fracture. The team was also without Diego Flaccadori and, crucially, Quinn Ellis due to an ankle issue. This placed increased responsibility on Nico Mannion, who Coach Poeta considered utilizing with a protective mask after suffering a fractured nose, though that decision was made after the game.
Despite the depleted roster, Poeta was pleased with his team’s composure. “They prepared very well for the game, we came here after spending a lot of energy against Barcelona, so I have to say well done to the guys who never lost confidence, patience and calm against the excellent opponent tonight, always finding different protagonists.”
Tactically, Milan focused on containing Cantù’s guards. “Today our idea was to stop their guards, if we could choose we focused on that and we suffered something underneath, we knew it and we had taken it into account,” Poeta explained. Cantù, however, proved a difficult opponent, having recently improved their offensive efficiency, often exceeding 90 points in recent games. They’ve also demonstrated a strong three-point shooting ability and a capacity to blend perimeter play with physicality, particularly through forwards Xavier Sneed and center Oumar Ballo.
Riccardo Ricci’s performance drew specific praise from the coach. “Ricci deserves it, he’s the only one who never stopped and so we are happy with his great performance today. His presence and leadership is constant in general and we know it.”
Mannion’s role and performance were also addressed. Poeta acknowledged the difficulty for a point guard to find rhythm after a period of inactivity. “Mannion had a good opportunity today, it’s not easy for a playmaker to acquire into a rhythm after not having played for several games. He has particular characteristics, he needs the right context to perform and sometimes he succeeds, other times less so. I am happy with the attitude despite having a non-primary role.”
The absence of Alessandro Bolmaro was also noted. “Bolmaro? We know how important his energy is for us, we missed him a lot and his presence is always fundamental.”
Looking ahead, Poeta acknowledged Cantù’s evolution since their previous encounter. “Cantù? A different team compared to the first leg, which I still saw playing with great confidence.”
Following this hard-fought victory, Olimpia Milano will travel to Dubai to face a EuroLeague matchup next Tuesday. The team will embark on a seven-hour flight to prepare for the game. This quick turnaround presents a logistical challenge, but Poeta and his team will aim to carry the momentum from the derby win into their European campaign. The team will need to quickly refocus and prepare for a different style of play and a new set of challenges.
The win underscores Milan’s depth and resilience, even when facing significant adversity. While acknowledging areas for improvement, particularly in closing out games, Poeta expressed confidence in his team’s ability to continue competing at a high level. The team’s ability to find contributions from various players, as highlighted by Poeta, will be crucial as they navigate a demanding schedule in both the Italian league and the EuroLeague.
Next up for Olimpia Milano is their EuroLeague contest in Dubai next Tuesday. Fans can follow updates and official announcements on the team’s official website, www.olimpiamilano.com.
