Decisive a mistake by Mannion in the final game

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Olimpia Milano loses, at home, to Olympiacos (83-84). Decisive was a lost ball, in the last action of the game, by Mannion. For the Red and White it is the third consecutive stop in the Euroleague. Now the red and white record è in perfect parity (9-9).

Coach Messina doesn’t take it lying down and, in the postgame, lashes out at the referees: “I’ve been here for six years and I’ve never talked about refereeing. In the game against Bayern, at one point, they gave a possession to us and Mirotic admitted to touching the ball, saving the coach of the Germans a challenge. Today è he was treated like a Euroleague rookie, before he then lost his mind. We were also treated like Euroleague rookies”.

There remains bitterness over another game lost in the final. As against Bayern Munich, the red-and-whites melted down at the worst moment, that is, in the decisive action: “Lacked lucidity” and the ability” to slow down the pace when the ball weighs a lot. It doesn&#39t come naturally to new teams; we&#39re working on that. Not only on offensive possessions, but also defensive”.

Evident disappointment in the stands (sold-out Forum) for a defeat that hurts becauseé came at the end of a good team performance. Coach Messina tries to look at the glass half full: “Everyone will talk about the’last possession, but there were so many things we could have done better to win. We accept the result”.

Thomas Beretta and a key victory

Christmas gift for MINT Vero Volley Monza, which is smiling again in the Credem Banca SuperLega. In the last match before the end of the year, the Consortium’s men’s first team gave itself a crucial championship victory, overcoming in the tie-break (25-13; 22-25; 17-25; 31-29; 15-12) the tricky Cucine Lube Civitanova team from the Marche region. In front of a packed Opiquad Arena è a heart-stopping challenge was staged that saw the Brianzoli battling on every ball and resisting Lube’s attacks.

After winning the first partial, the Monzese suffered the comeback of the Marche in the second and third sets. The fourth fraction è was animated by a very long point-to-point between the two formations with Civitanova having a chance to close the match, but MINT è was more tenacious and after three set points (31-29) sent the challenge to the tie-break. In the fifth and decisive partial, winners by Rohrs and Averill gave Monza the match and two crucial points for the standings.

Thomas Beretta, central MINT Vero Volley Monza, expressed all his joy: “Tonight&#39s victory was fundamental for the ranking but above all for the group; we managed to fight to the end against a team that is having a great championship. I hope this game will serve as a lesson to show us that we have the strength to pick ourselves up and react in difficult matches. I am proud of all the boys”.

Medei’s bitterness

Unbeatable at home, still indecipherable away from the’Eurosuole Forum. In the last external engagement of the calendar year, the trip to Brianza in the third return round of the Regular Season, Cucine Lube Civitanova slipped at the’Opiquad Arena against hosts Mint Vero Volley Monza in the tie break (25-13, 22-25, 17-25, 31-29, 15-12).

“Of matches like this away from home we have played many, and unfortunately they all ended up the same mod. We must first of all take note of this, but above all work mentally to finally change course. In the fourth set we wasted so many chances, we missed too many serves, as had already happened in other matches” observes Medei.

“I am very bitter, not so much for the defeat itselfé but for the way itè matured. It must not happen anymore. Now we analyze this game with the boys and then immediately head to the Italian Cup challenge with Milan, the most important match of the season” adds the coach of the Marche.