Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 13 in the Serie A2 took place in Milano. This derby game ended with only two-point home defeat of 5th ranked Milano Urania (9-4) to eighth ranked Forli (7-6) 82-80 on Saturday evening. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Milano Urania. 26 personal fouls committed by Milano Urania helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Guard Luca Pollone (197-1997, agency: Players Group) stepped up and scored 16 points and 7 rebounds for the winners and American guard Demonte Harper (193-1989, college: Morehead St.) chipped in 10 points and 7 assists. Forli’s coach Antimo Martino used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. At the losing side Nigerian-American power forward Ike Joseph Udanoh (207-1989, college: WSU) responded with a double-double by scoring 10 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. Forli moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Verona. Milano Urania at the other side keeps the fifth position with four games lost. Forli is looking forward to face bottom-ranked Piacenza (#20) at home in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Milano Urania will play against Avellino (#10) and is hoping to win this game.
The game in Verona supposed to be also worth to mention about. Third ranked Udine (10-3) played at the court of 6th ranked Verona (7-6). Udine smashed Verona 92-64. Naturalized American guard Mirza Alibegovic (196-1992) nailed 30 points and 5 rebounds for the winning side and Anthony Hickey accounted for 20 points and 6 assists. Udine’s coach Adriano Vertemati felt very confident that he used 10 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Forward Ethan Esposito (201-1999, college: Sacramento St.) came up with 14 points and 7 rebounds for Verona in the defeat. Udine have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain third place with 10-3 record behind leader Rimini. Verona at the other side dropped to the seventh position with six games lost. They share it with Forli. Udine will play against Juvi Cremona (#13) at home in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Verona will play against Livorno Libertas (#18) and hopes to get back on the winning track.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 13: Livorno Libertas were destroyed by Fortitudo on the opponent’s court 82-61. Brindisi managed to outperform Pesaro in a home game 100-84. Torino managed to beat Piacenza on the road 82-69. Rieti defeated Orzinuovi on its own court 77-66.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 19 points and 5 assists by Jazz Johnson of Rieti.

Fortitudo BO – Livorno Libertas 82-61

Rather expected game in Bologna where 15th ranked Livorno Libertas (4-9) were crushed by thirteenth ranked Fortitudo (5-7) 82-61. Fortitudo forced 19 Livorno Libertas turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Livorno Libertas‘ players. American forward Kenny Gabriel (205-1989, college: Auburn) nailed 27 points and 6 rebounds for the winning side and the former international guard Matteo Fantinelli (195-1993) accounted for 10 points, 9 rebounds and 12 assists. Five Fortitudo BO players scored in double figures. American-Israeli Adrian Banks (191-1986, college: Arkansas St.) came up with 16 points and 9 rebounds and power forward Nazzareno Italiano (198-1991) added 23 points respectively for Livorno Libertas in the defeat. Fortitudo moved-up to eleventh place, which they share with Torino and Juvi Cremona. Newly promoted Livorno Libertas dropped to the eighteenth position with nine games lost. They share it with Pesaro. Fortitudo will play against Vigevano (#15) on the road in the next round. Livorno Libertas will play against Verona and hope to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Fortitudo BO: K.Gabriel 27+6reb+1ast, R.Bolpin 17+2reb+5ast, D.Freeman 11+4reb+1ast, F.Mian 11+3reb+3ast, M.Fantinelli 10+9reb+12ast, L.Menalo 4+1reb
Livorno Libertas: N.Italiano 23+3reb+1ast, A.Banks 16+9reb+2ast, Q.Hooker 10+6reb+3ast, L.Tozzi 4+2reb, D.Buca 4+4reb, G.Allinei 3+1reb+1ast

gschID: 1184483

Verona – Udine 64-92

The game in Verona supposed to be also worth to mention about. Third ranked Udine (10-3) played at the court of 6th ranked Verona (7-6). Udine smashed Verona 92-64. Naturalized American guard Mirza Alibegovic (196-1992) nailed 30 points and 5 rebounds for the winning side and American point guard Anthony Hickey (180-1992, college: OK State, agency: Octagon Europe) accounted for 20 points and 6 assists. Udine’s coach Adriano Vertemati felt very confident that he used 10 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Forward Ethan Esposito (201-1999, college: Sacramento St.) came up with 14 points and 7 rebounds and Georgian-American point guard Jacob Pullen (183-1989, college: Kansas St., agency: AltusBasket) added 14 points respectively for Verona in the defeat. Udine have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain third place with 10-3 record behind leader Rimini. Verona at the other side dropped to the seventh position with six games lost. They share it with Forli. Udine will play against Juvi Cremona (#13) at home in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Verona will play against Livorno Libertas (#18) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Udine: M.Alibegovic 30+5reb+2ast, A.Hickey 20+2reb+6ast, X.Johnson 11+3reb+1ast, I.Ikangi 8+4reb+1ast, M.Da Ros 7+4reb+4ast, M.Agostini 5
Verona: E.Esposito 14+7reb+2ast, J.Pullen 14+3reb+1ast, J.Cannon 10+1reb, V.Bartoli 9+2reb, L.Udom 7+2reb+1ast, L.Faggian 6+5reb+3ast

gschID: 1184484

Brindisi – Pesaro 100-84

Everything could happen at the game between two tied teams. Both nineteenth ranked Brindisi and 18th ranked Pesaro had identical 4-8 record. This time Brindisi used a home court advantage and defeated the opponent from Pesaro 100-84. Brindisi dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Pesaro‘s 24 and made 17-of-21 charity shots (81.0 percent) during the game. Pesaro was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. American guard Bryon Allen (192-1992, college: GMU) nailed 26 points and 6 assists for the winning side and guard Andrea Calzavara (195-2001) accounted for 15 points and 5 assists. Four Brindisi players scored in double figures. American guard Khalil Ahmad (191-1996, college: CS Fullerton) came up with 24 points and the other American import forward VJ King (198-1997, college: Louisville, agency: Octagon Europe) added 16 points respectively for Pesaro in the defeat. Brindisi (5-8) moved-up to fourteenth place. Pesaro at the other side keeps the eighteenth position with nine games lost. They share it with Livorno Libertas. Brindisi will play against league’s leader Rimini on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Pesaro will play against Cantu (#4) having rather not much hope for a victory.
Top scorers:
Brindisi: B.Allen 26+3reb+6ast, A.Calzavara 15+1reb+5ast, K.Ndzie 12+7reb+1ast, T.Laquintana 11+3reb+2ast, G.Vildera 9+5reb, I.Almeida 9+5reb+3ast
Pesaro: K.Ahmad 24+1reb+2ast, V.King 16+4reb+1ast, L.Bucarelli 14+3reb+1ast, S.Parrillo 9+3reb, M.Imbro 9+2reb+2ast, E.Lombardi 7+3reb+1ast

gschID: 1184485

Milano Urania – Forli 80-82

gschID: 1184489

Piacenza – Torino 69-82

Not a big story in a game when 20th ranked Piacenza (2-10) was defeated at home by tenth ranked Torino (5-7) 82-69. Point guard Matteo Montano (190-1992) nailed 27 points for the winning side and point guard Matteo Schina (181-2001, agency: Players Group) accounted for 11 points and 10 assists. American Desonta Bradford (193-1996, college: ETSU, agency: Players Group) came up with 19 points and 7 assists and the other American import forward Nate Grimes (202-1996, college: Fresno St., agency: SLN) added 16 points and 5 rebounds respectively for Piacenza in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Despite that victory Torino went down to eleventh position due to points difference, which they share with Fortitudo and Juvi Cremona. Piacenza lost third consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with ten games lost. Torino will play against higher ranked Rieti (#6) at home in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Piacenza will play against Forli (#7) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Torino: M.Montano 27+2reb+1ast, K.Taylor 20+2reb+1ast, M.Schina 11+3reb+10ast, G.Severini 8+5reb+1ast, I.Josh Ajayi 7+13reb+1ast, A.Landi 5+3reb+3ast
Piacenza: D.Bradford 19+3reb+7ast, S.Bartoli 16+3reb+2ast, N.Grimes 16+5reb+1ast, N.Filoni 7+5reb+4ast, O.Suljanovic 3, N.Gajic 3+2reb+1ast

gschID: 1184491

Rieti – Orzinuovi 77-66

Everything went according to plan when sixth ranked Rieti (8-5) beat at home 9th ranked Orzinuovi (6-7) 77-66. They outrebounded Orzinuovi 44-30 including 30 on the defensive glass. Orzinuovi was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. American point guard Jazz Johnson (178-1996, college: Nevada) nailed 19 points and 5 assists for the winning side and the former international point guard Diego Monaldi (185-1993) accounted for 14 points. Rieti’s coach Alessandro Rossi allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Point guard Simone Pepe (184-1993, agency: SLN) came up with 19 points and 5 rebounds and Samuele Moretti (197-1998, agency: SLN) added 12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for Orzinuovi in the defeat. Rieti maintains sixth place with 8-5 record. Orzinuovi at the other side keeps the ninth position with seven games lost. Rieti will play against Torino (#12) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Orzinuovi will play against Nardo and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Rieti: J.Johnson 19+4reb+5ast, D.Monaldi 14+4reb+3ast, A.Sarto 12+3reb+3ast, I.Lupusor 8+9reb, L.Piccin 5+4reb+1ast, G.Piunti 5+2reb
Orzinuovi: S.Pepe 19+5reb+3ast, S.Moretti 12+7reb+4ast, G.DeVoe 12+2reb, L.Vencato 9+1reb+6ast, J.Williams 9+8reb+2ast, A.Bertini 3+1reb+1ast