By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
An improved effort after the break boosted EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in a win, 83-68, against Dolomiti Energia Trento in Il T Quotidiano Arena on Friday.
Shabazz Napier packing 20 points, including five triples, was the top player of Game 3. The two-time NCAA champion with Connecticut also dished out seven assists. Nikola Mirotic added 13 points for Le Scarpette Rosse. Johannes Voigtmann, Nicolo Melli, and Kyle Hines all finished with ten points. On the losing end, Matt Mooney and Prentiss Hubb shared a team-high 12 points.
Recovering homecourt advantage in a best-of-five series, Ettore Messina’s side went up 2-1 in the Quarterfinals of the LBA UnipolSai Playoffs. The key player in the Game 2 win, Shavon Shields was sidelined by the LBA champions due to injury. Alex Poythress, Billy Baron, and Denzel Valentine were out as well.
Earlier, Germani Brescia became the first team to qualify for the Semifinals of Italy’s top-flight division. A win, 87-68, versus Estra Pistoia in PalaCarrara completed a three-game sweep. Amedeo Della Valle scored a season-high 28 points and Miro Bilan posted a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double.
LBA Playoffs
Quarterfinals (best-of-five)
A – Virtus Segafredo Bologna – Bertram Derthona Tortona 2-1 (92-80, 83-77, 81-91)
B – Umana Reyer Venice – UnaHotels Reggio Emilia 1-2 (74-82, 83-75, 66-78)
C – EA7 Emporio Armani Milan – Dolomiti Energia Trento 2-1 (84-85, 104-93, 83-68)
D – Germani Brescia – Estra Pistoia 3-0 (79-70, 97-75, 98-77)
Semifinals (best-of-five)
Winners A-B
Germani Brescia – Winner C
Finals (best-of-five)
Winners of Semifinals
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net