20/12/2025, h. 20:00
PalaDesio of Desio (MB)
12th Day of the LBA Regular Season
ACQUA SAN BERNARDO CANTU’ 89
EA7 EMPORIO ARMANI MILAN 94
Milan Edges Past Cantù in Thrilling Derby Match
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan secured a hard-fought 94-89 victory over Acqua San Bernardo Cantù on Friday evening, marking their third consecutive win in the LBA regular season.
- Milan overcame a spirited Cantù comeback in the fourth quarter to clinch the win.
- Shabazz Napier led Milan with a dominant performance, scoring 22 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
- The historic Derby, absent for five seasons, saw Milan maintain their winning record against Cantù at PalaDesio.
- Cantù fought valiantly despite missing key players, showcasing resilience throughout the contest.
The atmosphere at PalaDesio was electric as Milan and Cantù faced off in a highly anticipated Derby, a fixture missing from the Italian basketball calendar for five years. Despite a roster depleted by injuries to Diop, Flaccadori, Tonut, and Bolmaro, Milan started strong, opening with an 11-2 run and closing the first quarter ahead by seven points.
Olimpia extended their lead to as many as 12 points in the second period, but Cantù responded with a 9-0 run, narrowing the gap to seven by halftime. The third quarter saw a dramatic shift in momentum, as Cantù outscored Milan 23-15, taking the lead for the first time in the match on the final possession of the period.
Milan answered with an 8-0 surge to begin the fourth quarter, seemingly seizing control of the game thanks to a dominant performance from Shabazz Napier, who finished with a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds. However, Cantù refused to yield, battling back to within one possession with 180 seconds remaining. In a nail-biting finish, Milan held on to secure the 94-89 victory.
Game Statistics
Acqua San Bernardo Cantù: Gilyard 10, Moraschini 12, De Nicolao 3, Ballo 8, Bortolani 21, Sneed 10, Basile 9, Green 12, Ajayi 4. Coach: Brienza.
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan: Ellis 10, Brooks 16, LeDay 9, Rike 11, Golden 14, Shields 7, Nebo 22, Dunston 5. Coach: Poetta.
Score by Quarters: 22-29; 25-25; 23-15; 19-25.
Team Stats: Cantù shot 10/28 from three-point range and 21/38 from two-point range, while Milan went 11/27 from beyond the arc and 23/46 from inside. Cantù secured 36 rebounds (Ballo with 14), while Milan grabbed 39 (Nebo with 12). Cantù recorded 18 assists (Gilyard with 5), compared to Milan’s 22 (Ellis and Shields with 5 each).
Milan will next travel to Dubai for a game on Tuesday, December 23rd at 5:00 pm Italian time. Their final game of 2025 will be at home against Cremona on Monday, December 29th at 8:00 pm at the Allianz Cloud.
