Unicaja Malaga got a great win on the road in the first game in Euroleague Top-16, over very important rival Lottomatica Rome. Great game on defense, leaving main star Becirovic with six points, and good job by Ndong and Haislip on the paint was enough to bring victory back home.
They wouldn't lose this difference in all the game, although a reaction in last minutes thanks to Jacopo Giachetti, who took his team back in the game, could have changed the score. Unicaja's coach, Aíto García Reneses, called a time-out to keep things in its place, and the game ended 75-88.
The main aspect of the game was the intense defense played by Unicaja, with constant pressure over Sani Becirovic, regular season's MVP, and the superiority on the paint by men like Haislip and Ndong. Brezec, Gigli and Hutson didn't have their day. rome tried to defend with a zone, but Unicaja knew how to attack it, even when they had bad percenteages from behind the arc.
Also we have to notice what a great player is Thomas Kelati. It was not the day for him to be the main scorer, but anyway he got thirteen points and played great defense over Becirovic. On the other hand, Brandon Jennings still have to prove what a great player he is supposed to be. He is just a teenager next to men like Omar Cook and Carlos Cabezas, with so many things to learn about this sport. Not a man yet, as he declared recently to be.
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