Last night at the PalaElachem arena in Vigevano, EA7 Armani Olimpia Milano secured a victory over Bertram Derthona in a high-profile friendly match. The game was the centerpiece of the fourth annual “Gianluca Bottacin – Basketball in the Heart” Memorial, an event honoring the memory of Gianluca Bottacin, a former director and vice-president of the Cat club who passed away in 2021. The contest, which ended in a win for the Milan-based team, highlighted both the team’s strengths and areas needing improvement.
An Evening of Remembrance, Charity, and New Beginnings
For Olimpia Milano, led by head coach Ettore Messina, participating in the memorial has become a tradition. The club has taken part in all previous events, winning each time. Tortona, coached by former Milano staffer Mario Fioretti and led on the court by captain and another Olimpia alumnus, Tommaso Baldasso, was making its second appearance at the event.
“This is an important event for the city in memory of Gianluca,” commented Roberta Bauer, vice-president of Cat Vigevano. “This year is doubly emotional, as we will also take a moment to delicately and respectfully honor Mr. Armani, considering all he did for his Olimpia. This initiative is also meant to entertain the public, and we hope for a large turnout like we’ve seen in recent years.”
The event, sponsored by the municipality of Vigevano, also marked the inauguration of the new parquet floor at the PalaElachem arena. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Milan-based TOG Foundation, which focuses on the rehabilitation of children with serious neurological diseases.
Key Figures of the Match: Top Performers
Several Olimpia players delivered outstanding performances that were crucial to the team’s success.
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Lorenzo Brown – Once again, he brilliantly orchestrated the team’s offense. His signature assists and excellent court vision were a highlight of the game, while several accurate three-pointers during a decisive run helped create the necessary lead.
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Shavon Shields – The team captain had a very solid, impactful game. He finished with 15 points on efficient 6-for-10 shooting, adding 6 rebounds and 2 assists. He played with confidence and made very few mistakes.
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Josh Nebo – The center delivered another encouraging performance, playing over 20 minutes. He was a reliable force in the paint, especially on defense, and contributed 11 points and 6 rebounds to the team’s total.
Room for Improvement: Players Who Struggled to Find Their Rhythm
At the same time, the evening was less successful for a couple of players.
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Devin Booker – He never managed to find his rhythm in the game. He struggled to score and was unable to make a significant impact on the offensive end.
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Armoni Brooks – His night got off to a rough start with two turnovers and a foul on Baldasso’s three-point attempt. He failed to find his shot for the remainder of the game, finishing just 1-for-7 from the field.