By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Reggio Emilia did what they have to do, beat Avellino 86-78 and have a 2-0 advantage in the Legabasket semifinals which are just starting.
The best of seven series has a long way to go, but Reggio Emilia proved that has nothing to fear at home. Stefano Gentile and Rimantas Kaukenas with 13 points each led a balanced offense, Amadeo Della Valle and Achille Polonara added 11 points each, while the other Lithuanian veteran of the team, Darjus Lavrinovic had 10 points.
Croatian forward Ivan Buva scored 20 points for the losing side, Joe Rangland had 16 and regular season MVP James Nunnaly added 12. After a balanced first half, Reggio Emilia build a lead and never lost it in the third period, had a 12 points advantage (80-68) in the fourth and got the win without feeling any real pressure at the end.