By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Shabazz Napier provided 12 points and eight assists to push Olimpia Milano to a 87 – 75 road win over Varese in an Italian League classic.
In his second Italian league game and fourth overall with Milano, Napier set the tone for a quite “fluid,” as coach Ettore Messina said, offensive performance by the Red Shoes with his playmaking. He also had four rebounds and three steals.
Brandon Davies scored 17 points while Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot dropped 16 points for Milano that improved to a league-best 15-4.
Varese needed a lot more than Colbey Ross’ strong all-around output (16 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds) to counter Milano and dropped to 10-9 and the sixth spot in the standings.
Virtus Bologna used a 0-13 run over the last eight minutes to defeat bottom-placed Reggio Emilia 63 – 74 away from home and climb at 15-4. Mam Jaiteh led Bologna’s efforts overall with 13 points plus 11 rebounds.
Sacar Anim scored 24 points for Reggio Emilia, now 5-14.
LBA Round 19
NutriBullet Treviso – GeVi Napoli 85-82
Bertram Yachts Derthona Tortona – Pallacanestro Trieste 80-69
Umana Reyer Venice – Carpegna Prosciutto Pesaro 93-77
Openjobmetis Varese -EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 75-87
UnaHotels Reggio Emilia – Virtus Segafredo Bologna 63-74
Givova Scafati – Dolomiti Energia Trento 74-79
Happy Casa Brindisi – Tezenis Verona 102-68
Germani Brescia – Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari 80-93
STANDINGS: Olimpia Milano 30 (15-4), Virtus Bologna 30 (15-4), Tortona 28 (14-5), Pesaro 22 (11-8), Sassari 20 (10-9), Trento 20 (10-9), Varese 20 (10-9), Brindisi 20 (10-9)…
Photo: Olimpia Milano