Olimpia Milano advances to Italian Cup semifinals with 94-86 victory over Trieste
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EA7 Emporio Armani Milano has taken the first crucial step toward Italian Cup glory, defeating Trieste 94-86 in a hard-fought quarterfinal encounter. The victory books Milano’s place in the semifinals, where they will face Brescia, who earlier defeated Udine 78-64.
Playing in their distinctive « azzurrina » jerseys that brought them Super Cup success, Milano found themselves tested by a resilient Trieste side under new head coach Taccetti. The match proved far more complex than the final scoreline suggests, with both teams trading momentum throughout the contest.
Shields shines in first-half masterclass
Shavon Shields emerged as Milano’s catalyst, finishing with a game-high 28 points. The American guard was particularly dominant in the opening half, pouring in 21 points to keep his team competitive when Trieste threatened to pull away. Shields immediately took control, scoring 11 of Milano’s first 20 points to establish an early 20-15 advantage.
Milano extended their lead to double digits at 29-19 through five consecutive points from Marko Guduric, but Trieste responded with authority. Led by Jahmius Ramsey’s explosive scoring, the visitors unleashed a devastating 14-3 run to overturn the deficit and claim a 33-32 lead. Ramsey continued his first-half rampage, helping Trieste outscore Milano 30-19 in the second quarter to take a 49-46 halftime advantage.
Second-half adjustments seal Milano’s progression
The turning point came at the start of the third quarter, when Milano unleashed a crushing 13-0 run. Leandro Bolmaro emerged as the catalyst, contributing on both ends of the floor while effectively neutralizing Ramsey, who managed just one field goal in the second half after his 18-point first-half explosion.
Passing game #insieme #Olimpia pic.twitter.com/yfZ4n1ZjSq
— Olimpia Milano (@OlimpiaMI1936) February 18, 2026
Trieste refused to surrender, with Michele Ruzzier and Jarrod Uthoff combining for crucial 3-pointers that brought the visitors within 66-64 entering the final quarter. However, Milano’s experience proved decisive in the closing stages. Armoni Brooks stepped up with 10 fourth-quarter points, while Shields continued his stellar performance to help Milano pull away.
The decisive moment arrived when Brooks converted three free throws and Ismael Kamagate threw down a thunderous dunk on the following possession, extending Milano’s lead to 82-71 and effectively sealing their semifinal berth. Milano managed the final stretch without major concerns, even finding valuable minutes for Kamagate and Bolmaro, both returning from injury layoffs.
For Trieste, Ramsey’s 27 points led the way, supported by Uthoff’s 16 points, but their struggles in the paint proved costly, shooting a dismal 9-of-27 from 2-point range against Milano’s physical defense.
The remaining quarterfinal matches between Tortona-Venice and Bologna–Napoli will determine Milano’s potential opponents for Sunday’s final, scheduled for 17:00.
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