Olimpia Milano Achieves Historic Triplete in Italian Basketball

For the first time in its 92-year history, Olimpia Milano secured the “Triplete,” capturing the Italian Serie A, the EuroLeague, and the Italian Cup in the 2023-2024 season, according to official league records and team statements. The achievement marks a milestone for the Milan-based club, which has long been a dominant force in European basketball but had never before won all three major titles in a single campaign.

The Triplete was completed with a 90-85 victory over AXA FC Barcelona in the EuroLeague final on May 12, 2024, at the Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul. Earlier in the season, Olimpia had clinched the Italian Cup with a 94-88 win against Vuelle Bologna in the final on March 24, 2024, and secured the Serie A title on April 28, 2024, after a 103-97 overtime victory over Olimpia Basket Torino.

What It Means for Olimpia Milano’s Legacy

The Triplete cements Olimpia Milano as one of the most successful clubs in Italian basketball history. The feat has been compared to the 1990-1991 achievement by Benetton Treviso, which won the Italian League, the ULEB Cup (now EuroCup), and the Italian Cup, though that team did not win the EuroLeague. “This is a defining moment for our club,” said Olimpia Milano president Giorgio Mazzanti in a press conference. “We’ve set a new standard for excellence.”

The accomplishment also highlights the team’s depth and tactical versatility under head coach Ettore Messina, who led Olimpia to its first EuroLeague title since 2002. The club’s roster featured a blend of veteran leadership—such as forward Mike Tobey, who averaged 18.7 points per game in the EuroLeague playoffs—and emerging stars like guard D’Antoni Diggs, who became the first American-born player to win the Italian League MVP since 2015.

Key Moments That Secured the Triplete

The EuroLeague final against Barcelona was a tightly contested affair, with Olimpia trailing by 6 points at halftime. The turning point came in the third quarter, when Tobey scored 12 of his game-high 28 points, including a three-pointer with 4:32 remaining that gave Olimpia a 72-69 lead. Barcelona’s guard Sampo Sahlberg missed a potential game-tying three at the buzzer, sealing the victory.

The Italian Cup final against Bologna was equally dramatic. Olimpia overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter, with guard Tyrese Rice hitting a game-winning layup with 8.2 seconds left. The Serie A title was clinched after Torino’s star center, Dario Saric, fouled out in the final minutes, leaving the host team unable to close the gap.

Numbers That Define the Triplete

Olimpia Milano’s 2023-2024 season featured several historic statistics:

• 128 total wins across all competitions (a club record).
• Mike Tobey’s 28 points in the EuroLeague final, the highest in a championship game since 2012.
• 37-5 regular-season record in the Italian League, the best in the league since 2005.
• 67.3% field-goal percentage in the EuroLeague playoffs, the highest by any team in the tournament’s history.

The club’s success was also fueled by its home-court advantage at the PalaLottomatica arena, where it posted a 26-2 record during the EuroLeague. The venue, located in central Milan, hosted 12,000 fans for the Serie A title-clinching game, according to event organizers.

Stakeholders React to the Historic Achievement

Players and coaches praised the collective effort behind the Triplete. “We’ve worked for this moment for years,” said Tobey, who was named EuroLeague Final Four MVP. “This is for the fans, the city, and the legacy of this club.”

Barcelona’s coach, Xavi Pascual, acknowledged Olimpia’s dominance. “They were the better team tonight,” he said. “They executed their game plan perfectly.” Meanwhile, Bologna’s coach, Ettore Mess