By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Going into penultimate Round 29 with a slight advantage, Virtus Segafredo Bologna falling at Palaverde draws EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in a favorable tie on top of the standings.
Tornike Shengelia and Marco Belinelli missed late free throws in the loss, 89-88, to NutriBullet Treviso Basket. Igniting the crowd, Adrian Banks completed a three-point play with the game-winning free throw with 2.5 seconds left in the back-and-forth LBA Serie A UnipolSaiRegular Season contest. The experienced guard finished with 21 points.
Shengelia had 21 points for the team coached by Sergio Scariolo. Recovering from a foot injury, French guard Isaia Cordinier combined seven points with five rebounds lasting 17 minutes in his first showing since early February. Ismael Bako (back) and Milos Teodosic (left leg) were sidelined along with Leo Menalo, Jordan Mickey, and Kyle Weems.
At PalaFerraris, Ettore Messina’s side escaped with a narrow win, 77-75, against third-placed Bertram Yachts Derthona Tortona to match the Bologna outfit at 22-7 and take first place heading to next week’s finale of the double-legged round-robin schedule. The prize for the top seed of the Regular Season is homecourt advantage throughout the Playoffs.
Billy Baron scored 21 points and Shabazz Napier threw in 15 more points. Nicolo Melli posted a 10-point, 13-rebound double-double. Aside from injured Devon Hall (knee), players not suiting up extended to DeShaun Thomas, Naz Mitrou-Long, Davide Alviti, and Kyle Hines. For the hosts, experienced point guard Semaj Christon logged a game-high 24 points.
LBA Round 29
GeVi Napoli Basket – Carpegna Prosciutto Pesaro 98-87
Dolomiti Energia Trento – Umana Reyer Venice 86-84
Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari – UnaHotels Reggio Emilia 89-77
Bertram Yachts Derthona Tortona – EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 75-77
Germani Brescia – Happy Casa Brindisi 75-69
Openjobmetis Varese – Givova Scafati 95-81
Pallacanestro Trieste – Tezenis Verona 85-77
NutriBullet Treviso Basket – Virtus Segafredo Bologna 89-88
STANDINGS: Olimpia Milan 44 (22-7), Virtus Bologna 44 (22-7), Tortona 36 (18-11), Sassari 34 (17-12), Venice 32 (16-13)…
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL