The third game in four days was a very physical one. Both teams didn’t shoot particularly well, but Olimpia defended hard, controlled the board (Moraschini grabbed nine rebounds, LeDay, Datome and Hines added seven each), led since late in the first quarter and closed the deal in the last two minutes, 74-65. When Trento tied the game up at 63, Coach Messina spent what proved to be his last time-out. Using two point guards at the same time, LeDay made the short jumper to take back the lead for good. Then Kyle Hines twice deflected a ball that Sergio Rodriguez recovered two made two straight open court assists. In the middle, it was Rodriguez again making the three that opened up a five-point decisive lead. Olimpia closed the game with a 11-2 run and won the best-of-five series 3-0. The semifinal series will start next Saturday in Milan, against the winner of the Venezia-Sassari quarterfinals. “I’m happy because we faced a team very hot and very aggressive, especially guarding our perimeter players. I think that Ricky Moraschini was crucial over the entire series and became really important especially after Shavon Shields’ injury. Michael Roll too was a professional model: he was ready to go and proved to be decisive,” Coach Ettore Messina said.

Moraschini completed a great series, by scoring 13 points, made all of his shots and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Kevin Punter added 14 points and Michael Roll 11. In the end, Kyle Hines made a couple of defensive great moves in spite of being on the court with four fouls. Rodriguez, who up to that moment, had not made any field goal, hit the huge three that extended the lead to five, pushing Trento away for good. Then he proceeded with two assist for Roll and LeDay, playing the part of a perfect closer.