ITA - Praise for Repesa as Bologna keep dreams alive

BOLOGNA (Lega A) - Climamio Bologna general manager Teo Alibegovic has hailed "genial" coach Jasmin Repesa after the Croatian guided the reigning champions to a crucial 73-72 overtime victory in game three of the Lega A final against Benetton Treviso.

Climamio trailed 2-0 going into the third game of the best-of-five series and looked to be on course for a comfortable home victory, before surrendering a 14-point lead.

However, Repesa's side regrouped and eventually secured a nerve-jangling victory to keep the series alive and Alibegovic insists the Croatian tactician should take a lot of credit for his side's success.

"It was a sensational game which I'm absolutely proud of. We should have won game three and in the end we did it three times," he said.

"But when Treviso came back into the game, showing calmness and maturity we still didn't panic thanks to a genial Jasmin Repesa.

"He has kept calm, making the changes at the right time and situation and with a few seconds to go at the end of the last extra-time he had the instinct to call a time out, moving our game play into half field rather than from our defence line.

"We succeeded because we played with the right attitude, dictating the game immediately with a great defence."

Aligbegovic believes Climamio can build on their first victory and take the series into a decisive game five by beating Treviso in their own backyard on Tuesday.

He added: "I am optimist for game four. In this marathon we can continue to grow.

"The key will be to impose our defence, but also to serve Dalibor Bagaric and in general our tall players, like we did in game three. We can do it at Treviso in the next game, then we play at home again in the last game."

PA Sport