Olimpia Milano Suffers 97-79 Defeat to Maccabi Tel Aviv in Belgrade EuroLeague Clash
Armani Milano dropped to a 1-3 record in the EuroLeague after a 97-79 loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Asa Nikolic Hall in Belgrade. Playing on a neutral court in Serbia, Milano trailed for three quarters before collapsing in the final ten minutes as Maccabi secured its first victory of the European campaign. The contest was officiated by referees Olegs Latisevs, Ioannis Foufis, and Anne Panther. Historically, the two clubs share a deep European pedigree, as Olimpia won two of its three European Champions Cups by defeating Maccabi Tel Aviv in the final: 71-69 in Lausanne on April 2, 1987, under coach Dan Peterson, and 90-84 in Ghent a year later under coach Franco Casalini.
First-Quarter Struggles Set the Tone for Milano
Milano’s night began with severe offensive and defensive difficulties. According to ANSA, the Italian side fell behind 20-9 after just seven minutes, committing four early turnovers. Maccabi capitalized on Milano’s defensive fouls, scoring 19 of its first 35 points from the free-throw line. Despite intermittent rallies that brought Milano within four points, defensive lapses allowed the Israeli hosts to maintain control. At halftime, Maccabi led 51-45. Earlier in the evening, the Israeli side honored the victims of October 7 with a minute of silence. The match started evenly on the neutral floor before Alpha Hoard sparked the first attempted breakaway for the hosts with a push to a ten-point lead. Milano struggled heavily, particularly on offense, but managed to close the gap slightly as the first period concluded at 24-20. Entering the second half, Olimpia attempted to force turnovers defensively, though Maccabi’s offense proved largely unfazed by coach Peppe Poeta’s adjustments, extending the advantage to 74-62 by the end of the third period—representing the largest lead of the match for the Israeli team.
Maccabi Pulls Away Behind Madar and Wallace
The second half offered no relief for coach Peppe Poeta’s squad. Maccabi shot 69.2 percent from two-point range, overwhelming Milano’s defensive switching scheme. Yam Madar led the winners with 17 points, while Tamir Colson and Alpha Hoard added 13 points each. Colson contributed four consecutive baskets, and as the final period opened, a decisive 18-7 run propelled Maccabi to an 83-67 advantage. Maccabi’s roster features a completely revamped center tandem of Dan Theis and Armando Bacot, alongside guard Keaton Wallace—who brings 84 games of NBA experience to the backcourt. Throughout the game, Milano players never managed to put themselves ahead after the opening two minutes of play, despite matching their opponents evenly on rebounds at 36 to 27 and shooting efficiently from the free-throw line at 24 out of 28.
Moses Wright’s Standout Performance Falls Short
Moses Wright provided virtually all of Milano’s resistance in the blowout. Wright posted 23 points on 9-of-10 shooting from inside the arc, grabbed 8 rebounds, and earned a 32 evaluation rating. Leandro Bolmaro struggled heavily for Milano, finishing with 1-of-5 shooting and three turnovers. Devon Hall contributed nine assists, and Garrison Mathews scored eight points—including a four-point play in the third quarter—but the supporting cast could not overcome the team’s third loss across domestic and continental competitions. Peters added 12 points for Milano, and Cole contributed 8 points.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Match
Why did Maccabi Tel Aviv play its home game in Belgrade?
Maccabi played its EuroLeague home fixture on a neutral court at the Asa Nikolic Hall in Belgrade.
What is Milano’s current standing in the EuroLeague?
Following this defeat, Armani Milano shares a 1-3 record in the EuroLeague standings with Maccabi Tel Aviv, having suffered its third straight loss in all competitions.
How many points did Moses Wright score against Maccabi?
Moses Wright led all Milano scorers with 23 points, adding 8 rebounds and shooting 9-of-10 from two-point range.