Pride is not enough. Even overtaking Milan in the 23rd minute isn't enough, because the talent of the Italian champions is really too much, as they conquer the PalaSerradimigni 93-61 and go to the final.
The start of Milan is like that of match one: Voigtmann and Napier lead the guests, 4-13 after three and a half minutes. Stephens and Bendzius attack the iron, Gentile scores the triple to make it 16-19. The fourth ends with an arbitration tribute to Hall who scores three free throws on a dubious foul.
Banco doesn't make a three-point basket (1/9) and Olimpia extends: 16-26 in the 12th minute.
Gentile attacks the iron, Robinson lights up and reopens the match with his income: 36-38 just a little
before rest. A little help from the referee and a triple from Shields allow Messina's team to have two baskets ahead in the middle of the match
On his return triples from Dowe and Bendzius for overtaking, the first and unfortunately the only one: 42-41 in the 23rd minute. Talented Shields puts in two bombs, his teammates follow him and also the very fiery Datome who adjusts the maximum gap: -13 in the 29th minute.
The last quarter has no history, by now Milan plays on velvet, but PalaSerradimigni thanks the team and pays a standing ovation to Devecchi who ends his career after more than 800 matches in biancoblù.
The tables
Sassari: Jones 2 Robinson 15 Dowe 12 Kruslin 2 Devecchi, Treier 5 Chessa, Stephens 9 Bendzius 9 Gentile 3 Raspino, Diop 4 All. Bucchi.
Milan: Tonut 4 Melli 13 Baron, Napier 21 Ricci 3 Hall 10 Baldasso, Shields 18 Alviti, Hines 2 Datome 7 Voigtmann 15 All. Messina