By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Storming back from an early double-digit deficit, AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milano took down UNAHOTELS Reggio Emilia, 84-74, on Sunday.
Sergio Rodriguez set his season-best at 22 points and Luigi Datome with 20 points also recorded a season-high in the LBA Serie A Regular Season Round 8 contest. Devon Hall and Kaleb Tarczewski sat out alongside injured Malcolm Delaney and suspended Riccardo Moraschini.
The visiting side failed to build on the 16-4 start despite Mikael Hopkins finishing with 21 points to his name. Osvaldas Olisevisius followed with 16 points.
The sixth consecutive win across all competitions improved the Italian League start to 8-0. Up 8-1 in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, Ettore Messina’s side turns to focus back to the continent’s premier club competition with a trip to Russia featuring visits at UNICS Kazan on Wednesday and Zenit Saint Petersburg on Friday.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna matched Happy Casa Brindisi at 6-2 in second place of the Italian table, thanks to the rout of Germani Brescia, 103-74. Experienced forward Kyle Weems landed a game-high 22 points. Milos Teodosic and Isaia Cordinier put up 15 and 13 points, respectively.
Elsewhere, Trey Kell packing 24 points and Alessandro Gentile adding 23 points powered Openjobmetis Varese past Allianz Pallacanestro Trieste, 86-70.
Tomas Dimsa and Henry Sims poured 23 and 22 points, respectively, as NutriBullet Treviso beat Vanoli Cremona, 96-83.
Mitchell Watt banked in 21 points for Umana Reyer Venezia in the away win, 91-77, versus Fortitudo Kigili Bologna.
Sunday results:
Germani Brescia – Virtus Segafredo Bologna 74-103
Fortitudo Kigili Bologna – Umana Reyer Venezia 77-91
Bertram Tortona – Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari 95-89
AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milano – UNAHOTELS Reggio Emilia 84-74
NutriBullet Treviso – Vanoli Cremona 96-83
Allianz Pallacanestro Trieste – Openjobmetis Varese 70-86