By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Despite missing both Henry Sims and Michal Sokolowski, NutriBullet Treviso defeated Lavrio Megabolt, 90-78, to sweep the Basketball Champions League Play-In best-of-three series Tuesday night.
Matteo Imbro led the undermanned squad with a season-high 19 points to go along with nine rebounds and five assists in Game 2. Lithuanian guard Tomas Dimsa and DeWayne Russell ended up with 18 points each at Peace and Friendship Stadium, the usual venue for home games of Olympiacos. Nicola Akele contributed 13 more points and Aaron Jones posted a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double.
A positive COVID-19 test forced Sims out, while Sokolowski was sidelined with a right calf injury. However, Massimiliano Menetti’s side enjoyed a winning visit to Greece. The visitors remained in control most of the way. The lead peaked at 16 points.
The Italian team, currently 6-8 in LBA Serie A, moves on to Group J of the Round of 16. Baxi Manresa and Tofas Bursa entered as Regular Season group winners, while Hereda San Pablo Burgos or Darussafaka will complete the four-team field.
As for the team led by Greek tactician Christos Serelis, the debut BCL campaign came to an end. Vassilis Mouratos and Petros Geromichalos shared a team-high in the first losing effort at home through the 2021-22 edition of FIBA’s premier European club competition.
Sitting at 5-6 in Greece’s Stoiximan Basket League, Lavrio hopes to improve the W-L tally moving into the bottom half of the Regular Season at the domestic level.
Postgame press conference:
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League