FIBA Basketball
ITA - Benetton, Climamio on top in Italy
ROMA (Lega A) - Benetton Treviso and Climamio Bologna lead the way in Italy after Saturday’s action but surprising Snaidero Cucine Udine are just one game behind as the Lega A race hits the final stretch.Benetton won 91-89 at Upea Capo d'Orlando with Italian phenom Andrea Bargnani making the big plays late. The hosts had just tied the contest at 87-87 in the final minute
ROMA (Lega A) - Benetton Treviso and Climamio Bologna lead the way in Italy after Saturday’s action but surprising Snaidero Cucine Udine are just one game behind as the Lega A race hits the final stretch.
Benetton won 91-89 at Upea Capo d'Orlando with Italian phenom Andrea Bargnani making the big plays late. The hosts had just tied the contest at 87-87 in the final minute after a Vassil Evtimov basket when Bargnani replied with a go-ahead bucket in the low post.
After Virginijus Praskevicius missed from the arc for Upea, Bargnani grabbed the rebound, was fouled and made two from the stripe for a four-point lead. Vincenzo Esposito scored a late bucket for Upea Capo d’Orlando but it wasn’t enough as Benetton won for the 21st time in 28 games.
Climamio also improved to 21-7 with a thrilling 86-84 triumph at Bologna rivals VidiVici.
Snaidero won for the seventh time on the trot by edging Angelico Biella, who had a chance to tie at the end but Thabo Sefolosha’s three-pointer was off target.
Jerome Allen had 19 points and Glenn Sekunda 17 for the winners, who are now 20-8.
Vertical Vision Cantu got big performances from Canadian Rowan Barrett (24 points) and Phill Jones (19) of New Zealand in a 100-93 triumph over Basket Livorno to ease their relegation fears. Cantu, who played in the EuroCup, improved to 10-18 and are 13th in the 18-team league.
Bipop Carire Reggio Emilia kept their play-off hopes alive with a 106-102 double overtime triumph over Whirlpool Varese. The game wasn’t decided until the final minute of the second extra period.
Austrian Benjamin Ortner went up strong and scored for a three-point play and then team-mate Terrell McIntyre added a pair of free throws for a 105-100 advantage and Varese did not recover. McIntyre had 33 points and Ortner 24 in the victory for Bipop.
The biggest upset of the night saw Coppa Italia winners Carpisa Napoli fall to Air Avellino, 87-85. David Young scored near the end of Avellino, who are in the penultimate place in the standings.
Lynn Greer, the most valuable player in Lega A in the first half of the season, had a chance to win at the end but missed a desperation three-pointer.
The other game saw Roseto win 88-69 at Navigo.it Teramo.
By PA Sport
Benetton won 91-89 at Upea Capo d'Orlando with Italian phenom Andrea Bargnani making the big plays late. The hosts had just tied the contest at 87-87 in the final minute after a Vassil Evtimov basket when Bargnani replied with a go-ahead bucket in the low post.
After Virginijus Praskevicius missed from the arc for Upea, Bargnani grabbed the rebound, was fouled and made two from the stripe for a four-point lead. Vincenzo Esposito scored a late bucket for Upea Capo d’Orlando but it wasn’t enough as Benetton won for the 21st time in 28 games.
Climamio also improved to 21-7 with a thrilling 86-84 triumph at Bologna rivals VidiVici.
Snaidero won for the seventh time on the trot by edging Angelico Biella, who had a chance to tie at the end but Thabo Sefolosha’s three-pointer was off target.
Jerome Allen had 19 points and Glenn Sekunda 17 for the winners, who are now 20-8.
Vertical Vision Cantu got big performances from Canadian Rowan Barrett (24 points) and Phill Jones (19) of New Zealand in a 100-93 triumph over Basket Livorno to ease their relegation fears. Cantu, who played in the EuroCup, improved to 10-18 and are 13th in the 18-team league.
Bipop Carire Reggio Emilia kept their play-off hopes alive with a 106-102 double overtime triumph over Whirlpool Varese. The game wasn’t decided until the final minute of the second extra period.
Austrian Benjamin Ortner went up strong and scored for a three-point play and then team-mate Terrell McIntyre added a pair of free throws for a 105-100 advantage and Varese did not recover. McIntyre had 33 points and Ortner 24 in the victory for Bipop.
The biggest upset of the night saw Coppa Italia winners Carpisa Napoli fall to Air Avellino, 87-85. David Young scored near the end of Avellino, who are in the penultimate place in the standings.
Lynn Greer, the most valuable player in Lega A in the first half of the season, had a chance to win at the end but missed a desperation three-pointer.
The other game saw Roseto win 88-69 at Navigo.it Teramo.
By PA Sport