Only the most fanatical AX Armani Exchange Milan fans could have believed their team would dominate the third quarter in Istanbul the way it did.
Rodriguez spearheaded Milan’s magical third quarter
Milan’s normally outstanding defense had been dissected by Anadolu Efes Istanbul’s sharpshooters in the first half. The hosts had made 10 of 15 threes in the first 20 minutes and led 51-36 at the break.
It was going to take a remarkable effort to come back in the game consisting of not only talent, but leadership too. That’s where Sergio Rodriguez comes in. The former EuroLeague MVP took charge after the break with 5 points and 2 assists that led to 5 more points in a 2-14 run that got Milan right back in the game.
Shortly thereafter, Rodriguez nailed his third triple of the game. That gave him 538 for his career and took him past former teammate Rudy Fernandez for second place on the all-time EuroLeague charts, trailing only his former Spanish national team mate Juan Carlos Navarro (623).
Rodriguez scored 8 points and tacked on 3 assists in the third quarter. He added a free throw, 2 more assists and 1 steal in the fourth and finished the game with 12 points and 8 assists. He not only led Milan with a performance index rating of 17, but his +/- of 20 was the highest in the game. Devon Hall was next at 11.
“Honestly, I think it was the best game of the season,” Rodriguez said after the game. “We came back from a big deficit, we showed character and at this point in the year, it’s very important to go up towards the end of the season.”
No player showed more character or played a bigger role in that comeback than the player known as “El Chacho” and with him in great form, Milan, which with one more win can clinch home-court advantage for the playoffs, is a very dangerous team.