After three victories in a row in the league, Siena's first joy in the Euroleague has finally arrived, 75-73 on the Unicaja Malaga field, rediscovering a success that had been missing in this competition for nine games (also counting the end of the last edition) .
Mens Sana came to this match with their backs to the wall, fresh from four defeats in the first 4 rounds, a further knockout would have practically cut them off from any discussion, while a positive result would have allowed them to cling to Europe that counts . And in the end, somewhat surprisingly, came the victory that keeps the Italian team alive, a success won against a formidable and fit opponent, conquering a pitch, the Martin Carpena Arena, where Zielona Gora and Galatasaray were came out with broken bones and sidereal detachments.
It was a game in which Siena finally started with the right face, the one that hadn't been seen in Europe for a long time, closing the first quarter deservedly ahead, but then there was the response from the Andalusians who, led in attack by various Dragic, Caner-Medley and Granger, managed to close the first half up by one. Then great balance until the last minutes, when the hosts extended up to +6 on 72-66, at which point the inertia of the match made one think of another Sienese defeat, however Crespi's team did not give up and once again showed great character, finding the hero of the evening in Jeff Viggiano, a player who is perhaps a little too underrated, given that the Italian-American (also from Milan) first made the triple that overturned the score 38 seconds from the end and after the Andalusians equalized again he scored the decisive basket right on the siren, at the end of a last Siena possession not managed in the best way.
For Siena, in addition to Viggiano, it is worth mentioning the excellent performance of Erick Green, author of 20 points, and the return to very high levels also in Europe of Daniel Hackett, 19 points and many plays which allowed his team in the last quarter to stay in contact with the opponents, before the exciting finale. Montepaschi thus avoided ending the first leg of the first phase at the post (a situation that would have in fact condemned her to premature elimination), restoring hope of passage to the Top 16. At the moment there is minimal hope, given that Siena is still at the bottom of the standings, but now Mens Sana will be able to look at the five remaining games with a different spirit, aware that they can play it all (apart perhaps Olympiakos, to be faced in Piraeus, when however the Greeks should already be sure of the qualification) and with the possibility of playing the three direct matches against Bayern, Zielona and Malaga at home.
The meeting in Turkey in seven days on the field of Galatasaray will be already fundamental, which inflicted the first knockout on Siena on the debut (so far the bloodiest defeat, the one that in the end could be fatal), any new false step would almost bring Siena's Top 16 hopes are zero, but if the green-and-whites were to do the feat then at that point they would find themselves fully in the running. The road is still uphill, but if the character and desire are those seen against Malaga (and some players manage to increase their contribution, smoothing out the too many mistakes seen so far), then Siena's adventure might not end halfway December.
The one who, on the other hand, seems to have the possibility of transforming its path into a pleasant descent is Milan, which tonight at the Forum welcomes Strasbourg, the bottom light of its group, in a match that Olimpia can only win, without ifs and without but, if he doesn't want to ruin what good he has done so far. If successful, EA7 would finish the first leg with a balance of 3 wins and 2 defeats, in second place behind Real Madrid and level on points with Efes Istanbul. And the Turks will be Milan's next opponents, next week again at the Forum, in a game that if Banchi's team were to win would allow Gentile and his teammates to face the last few matches in peace and safety, adjectives unknown to the Milanese fans in recent European seasons.
