Partizan MT: S stun EA7 Emporio Armani 69-65: Euroleague Recap
What looked like an easy win at one point ended in a disaster for Emporio Armani, as Partizan MT :S, trailing by 21 points midway through the third quarter, initiated an vicious onslaught and not only managed to slash the mammoth
deficit, but in the end, stunned the opponents 69-64.
Partizan started the tournament with two losses, but since then, they have been on a roll. This third consecutive and a much needed victory for the Serbian side has carried them into second position in group C and has also augmented
their chances of reaching the top 16.
On the night, Emporio made too many mistakes on the defense and that is what caused them the game. The Azzuri players were in disbelief after the game. Leon Redosevic who was on the field for only 8 minutes and watched most of
the game from the bench expressed his amazement saying
“I don’t understand how we lost. Personally, this is the second time this has happened to me against Partizan, first in the Adriatic League final, with (Dusan) Kecman’s impossible three-pointer with 0.6 seconds left, and now again
with Kecman a protagonist because his experience raise Partizan’s game. It’s up to us to react now if we’re going to pass on to the Top 16.”
Milan Macvan, who was the most impressive player for Partizan in the last game, was at his best again, completing a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Nikola Pekovic added 15 while Dusan Kecman scored 11 and pulled
6 rebounds.
Four players from the losing team managed to end with scores in double figures. Denver Nuggets star Danilo Gallinari scored 14 points on a near perfect 7 for 9 from the free throw line whereas Malik Hairston and Stefano Mancinelli
scored 12 points each. Double-double machine Ioannis Bourousis finished with 10 points, but failed to make any impact on the glass as he only managed to pull 3 defensive rebounds on the night.
The game was evenly fought for the first 15 minutes and the score were tied at 19. However in the next 11 minutes, spanned over the second and the third quarter, the Italians broke through with a 26-5 burst, taking their advantage
to 45-24.
Partizan, shaken by the onslaught, tried to respond but could only shake off four points from their massive deficit. They ended the third quarter trailing by 56-39.
MT:S tried hard to make a game in the fourth, but five into the frame, they were still trailing by 15 and it seemed that Armani would cruise to a win.
However, it was not to be.
Vladimir Lucic knocked down a three to reduce the deficit to 12. Gallinari responded with a free throw minute later. What followed was a 17-0 run from the Serbian that completely turned the game upside down.
Deep inside the last minutes Malik Hairston finally managed to score for Armani and brought them with two points. But, it was too late by then and Dusan Kecman slipped in two free throw to finally end a remarkable fourth quarter,
and the game.
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