Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.
An interesting game for Udine (16-5) which hosted in Udine 4th placed Cividale (14-7). Second ranked Udine managed to get a 10-point victory 76-66. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Cividale. It was a good game for American point guard Anthony Hickey (180-1992, college: OK State, agency: Octagon Europe) who led his team to a victory with 26 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. His fellow American import Xavier Johnson (201-1993, college: Colorado) contributed with 10 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. American-Panamanian guard Doron Lamb (191-1991, college: Kentucky) answered with 21 points for Cividale. Udine maintains second place with 16-5 record behind leader Rimini, which they share with Cantu. Cividale at the other side keeps the fourth position with seven games lost. Udine is looking forward to face Nardo (#19) on the road in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Cividale will play against Livorno Libertas (#15) and is hoping to prove to their supporters that the loss was just an accident.
Serie A2 top team – Rimini (17-4) added another victory to their record. This time they beat fifteenth ranked Livorno Libertas (7-14) 82-77. American Justin Johnson (200-1996, college: WKU) stepped up and scored 9 points and 11 rebounds for the winners and Pierpaolo Marini chipped in 16 points. The best for the losing side was American point guard Quinton Hooker (183-1995, college: N.Dakota) with 20 points and 6 rebounds. Rimini have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain first place with 17-4 record. Livorno Libertas lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team keep the fifteenth position with 14 games lost. They share it with Vigevano and Juvi Cremona. Rimini will play against Forli (#10) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Livorno Libertas will play against Cividale (#4) and hope to get back on the winning track.
A very close game took place in Milano between Torino and Milano Urania. Thirteenth ranked Torino (9-12) got a very close victory on the road over higher ranked Milano Urania (13-8). Torino managed to escape with a 1-point win 73-72 on Wednesday evening. It was quite big embarassment for the home team. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Milano Urania. Ife Josh Ajayi nailed 15 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side. Torino’s coach Matteo Boniciolli used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. Nathanial Potts came up with 24 points and 4 assists for Milano Urania in the defeat. Torino moved-up to twelfth place, which they share with Brindisi and Orzinuovi. Loser Milano Urania keeps the fifth position with eight games lost. They share it with Verona. Torino will meet at home Orzinuovi (#13) in the next round. Milano Urania will play against Pesaro (#11) and hope to secure a win.
There were no big surprises in other games of round 21: Fortitudo beat Orzinuovi on the road 83-71. Bottom-ranked Piacenza lost to Cento on its own court 74-80. Rieti unfortunately lost to Brindisi in a road game 67-72. Verona managed to beat Forli at home 93-77. Cantu defeated Juvi Cremona on the opponent’s court 81-72. Vigevano was beaten by Pesaro in a home game 82-93. Avellino lost to Nardo on the road 80-89.
The most impressive performance of 21th round was 22 points and 7 rebounds by Jaren Lewis of Avellino.
Orzinuovi – Fortitudo BO 71-83
No shocking result in a game when ninth ranked Fortitudo (12-9) beat on the road 12th ranked Orzinuovi (9-12) 83-71 on Wednesday. Fortitudo outrebounded Orzinuovi 35-24 including 26 on the defensive glass. Fortitudo looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. The former international guard Matteo Fantinelli (195-1993) nailed a double-double by scoring 17 points, 9 rebounds and 15 assists (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) for the winning side and American forward Deshawn Freeman (201-1994, college: Rutgers, agency: One Motive Sports) accounted for 17 points and 5 rebounds. Five Fortitudo BO players scored in double figures. The former international point guard Stefano Bossi (190-1994, agency: Players Group) came up with 20 points and 5 assists and American power forward Jarvis Williams (203-1993, college: Murray St.) added 17 points respectively for Orzinuovi in the defeat. Fortitudo have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Avellino and Rieti. Orzinuovi lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the twelfth position with 12 games lost. They share it with Brindisi and Torino. Fortitudo will meet at home bottom-ranked Piacenza (#20) in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Orzinuovi will play against Torino (#12) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Fortitudo BO: D.Freeman 17+5reb+2ast, M.Fantinelli 17+9reb+15ast, F.Mian 13+2reb+1ast, P.Aradori 12+2reb+1ast, L.Battistini 12+9reb, R.Bolpin 12+4reb+2ast
Orzinuovi: S.Bossi 20+4reb+5ast, J.Williams 17+4reb, S.Moretti 10+4reb+3ast, J.Johnson 7+3reb+2ast, A.Bertini 7+1reb, A.Loro 6+2reb+1ast
gschID: 1184563
Piacenza – Cento 74-80
Rather expected game when 20th ranked Piacenza (3-18) lost at home to eighteenth ranked Cento (6-15) 80-74 on Wednesday. Point guard Nicola Berdini (184-2003) nailed a double-double by scoring 22 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side and American forward Stacy Davis (198-1994, college: Pepperdine) accounted for 20 points and 7 rebounds. Michele Serpilli (201-1999) came up with 19 points and 9 rebounds and American guard Derrick Marks (191-1993, college: Boise St., agency: Players Group) added 21 points and 4 assists respectively for Piacenza in the defeat. Four Piacenza players scored in double figures. Cento maintains eighteenth place with 6-15 record, which they share with Nardo. Piacenza lost sixth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 18 games lost. Cento will meet at home higher ranked Verona (#6) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Piacenza will play against Fortitudo (#7) in Bologna and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Cento: N.Berdini 22+10reb+5ast, S.Davis 20+7reb+2ast, L.Benvenuti 13+9reb, G.DeVoe 9+6reb+2ast, M.Graziani 6+4reb+1ast, V.Nobile 5+2reb+1ast
Piacenza: D.Marks 21+3reb+4ast, M.Serpilli 19+9reb+1ast, U.D’Almeida 11+9reb+1ast, S.Bartoli 10+8reb+2ast, F.Bonacini 6+2reb, N.Filoni 5+3reb+2ast
gschID: 1184564
Rimini – Livorno Libertas 82-77
Serie A2 top team – Rimini (17-4) added another victory to their record. This time they beat fifteenth ranked Livorno Libertas (7-14) 82-77. American Justin Johnson (200-1996, college: WKU) stepped up and scored 9 points and 11 rebounds for the winners and the former international swingman Pierpaolo Marini (193-1993, agency: Players Group) chipped in 16 points. The best for the losing side was American point guard Quinton Hooker (183-1995, college: N.Dakota) with 20 points and 6 rebounds and American-Israeli Adrian Banks (191-1986, college: Arkansas St.) scored 23 points. Rimini have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain first place with 17-4 record. Livorno Libertas lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team keep the fifteenth position with 14 games lost. They share it with Vigevano and Juvi Cremona. Rimini will play against Forli (#10) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Livorno Libertas will play against Cividale (#4) and hope to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Rimini: P.Marini 16+3reb+3ast, G.Camara 14+7reb, G.Robinson 12+3reb+5ast, G.Tomassini 10+1reb+1ast, J.Johnson 9+11reb+3ast, S.Anumba 9+5reb
Livorno Libertas: A.Banks 23+4reb+1ast, Q.Hooker 20+6reb+3ast, A.Filloy 15+4reb+2ast, T.Fantoni 7+7reb+2ast, A.Bargnesi 5+3reb+1ast, N.Italiano 5+4reb
gschID: 1184565
Udine – Cividale 76-66
An interesting game for Udine (16-5) which hosted in Udine 4th placed Cividale (14-7). Second ranked Udine managed to get a 10-point victory 76-66. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Cividale. It was a good game for American point guard Anthony Hickey (180-1992, college: OK State, agency: Octagon Europe) who led his team to a victory with 26 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. His fellow American import Xavier Johnson (201-1993, college: Colorado) contributed with 10 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. American-Panamanian guard Doron Lamb (191-1991, college: Kentucky) answered with 21 points and the former international Francesco Ferrari (204-2005) added 9 points and 13 rebounds in the effort for Cividale. Udine maintains second place with 16-5 record behind leader Rimini, which they share with Cantu. Cividale at the other side keeps the fourth position with seven games lost. Udine is looking forward to face Nardo (#19) on the road in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Cividale will play against Livorno Libertas (#15) and is hoping to prove to their supporters that the loss was just an accident.
Top scorers:
Udine: A.Hickey 26+6reb+7ast, M.Alibegovic 13+1reb, I.Ikangi 11+4reb, X.Johnson 10+8reb+1ast, R.Pullazi 7+7reb+1ast, M.Da Ros 6+7reb+5ast
Cividale: D.Lamb 21+2reb, E.Rota 12+5reb+4ast, F.Ferrari 9+13reb, G.Dell’Agnello 8+10reb+1ast, L.Redivo 7+3reb+4ast, M.Berti 5+4reb+1ast
gschID: 1184566
Brindisi – Rieti 72-67
There was a surprise result when fourteenth ranked Brindisi (9-12) won against at home higher ranked Rieti (12-9) 72-67 on Wednesday. American guard Bryon Allen (192-1992, college: GMU) nailed 21 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists for the winning side and guard Andrea Calzavara (195-2001) accounted for 13 points and 6 rebounds. American guard Jordan Harris (194-1997, college: Georgia) came up with 23 points and 4 assists and the other American import power forward Skylar Spencer (206-1994, college: SDSU, agency: Slash Sports) added 12 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Rieti in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Brindisi moved-up to twelfth place, which they share with Torino and Orzinuovi. Loser Rieti dropped to the seventh position with nine games lost. They share it with Fortitudo and Avellino. Brindisi will meet higher ranked Avellino (#9) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Rieti will play against Cantu where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Top scorers:
Brindisi: B.Allen 21+6reb+7ast, A.Calzavara 13+6reb+3ast, M.Ogden 12+7reb, T.Radonjic 8, T.Laquintana 6+5reb, G.Arletti 4+4reb+1ast
Rieti: J.Harris 23+3reb+4ast, S.Spencer 12+8reb+1ast, K.Viglianisi 8+2reb+1ast, A.Sarto 7+2reb, G.Piunti 7+4reb+2ast, M.Spanghero 5+1reb+4ast
gschID: 1184567
Verona – Forli 93-77
Not a big story in a game when 10th ranked Forli (11-10) lost on the road to sixth ranked Verona (13-8) 93-77 on Thursday. Forward Ethan Esposito (201-1999, college: Sacramento St.) nailed 21 points and 5 rebounds for the winning side and point guard Lorenzo Penna (180-1998) accounted for 16 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Israeli Shawn Dawson (198-1993) came up with 17 points and 6 rebounds and the former international power forward Raphael Gaspardo (207-1993, agency: Players Group) added 17 points and 4 assists respectively for Forli in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Forli’s coach Antimo Martino rotated ten players seeing no chance for a win. Verona moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Milano Urania. Forli lost third consecutive game. They keep the tenth position with ten games lost. They share it with Pesaro. Verona will meet Cento (#18) on the road in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Forli will play against the league’s leader Rimini (#1) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Verona: E.Esposito 21+5reb+3ast, L.Penna 16+5reb+5ast, Z.Copeland 15+4reb+2ast, M.Palumbo 10+4reb+2ast, L.Udom 10+5reb+2ast, J.Cannon 9+10reb+2ast
Forli: R.Gaspardo 17+3reb+4ast, S.Dawson 17+6reb+2ast, T.Perkovic 15+3reb+1ast, L.Pollone 11+3reb+2ast, R.Tavernelli 4+4reb+3ast, D.Magro 4
gschID: 1184568
Juvi Cremona – Cantu 72-81
Everything went according to plan when third ranked Cantu (16-5) defeated on the road 16th ranked Juvi Cremona (7-14) 81-72 on Wednesday. The former international forward Grant Basile (206-2000, college: Virginia Tech) nailed 29 points and 6 rebounds (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field) for the winning side and American Dustin Hogue (198-1992, college: Iowa St.) accounted for 11 points and 10 rebounds. Point guard Federico Massone (191-1998) came up with 15 points and 5 assists and American guard Isiah Brown (188-1997, college: Weber St., agency: Worldwide SM) added 16 points respectively for Juvi Cremona in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Cantu have a solid series of four victories in a row. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Udine. Juvi Cremona lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the fifteenth position with 14 games lost. They share it with Vigevano and Livorno Libertas. Cantu will meet at home Rieti (#8) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Juvi Cremona will play against Vigevano (#17) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Cantu: G.Basile 29+6reb, R.Moraschini 16+3reb+1ast, D.Hogue 11+10reb+1ast, F.Rossi 9+7reb, L.Okeke 6+4reb, A.De Nicolao 3+2ast
Juvi Cremona: I.Brown 16+3reb, F.Massone 15+4reb+5ast, E.Polanco 10+3reb+1ast, S.Barbante 9+2reb, G.Bertetti 9+1reb+3ast, Y.Giombini 7+6reb
gschID: 1184569
Vigevano – Pesaro 82-93
There was no surprise when 17th ranked Vigevano (7-14) lost at home to eleventh ranked Pesaro (11-10) 93-82 on Wednesday. The former international point guard Matteo Imbro (192-1994) nailed 28 points for the winning side and American guard Khalil Ahmad (191-1996, college: CS Fullerton) accounted for 25 points. Four Pesaro players scored in double figures. American point guard Myles Mack (178-1993, college: Rutgers) came up with 20 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists and forward Giacomo Leardini (198-1999) added 17 points (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) respectively for Vigevano in the defeat. Vigevano’s coach Lorenzo Pansa rotated ten players in this game, but that didn’t help. Pesaro moved-up to tenth place, which they share with Forli. Loser Vigevano dropped to the fifteenth position with 14 games lost. They share it with Livorno Libertas and Juvi Cremona. Pesaro will meet at home higher ranked Milano Urania (#5) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Vigevano will play against Juvi Cremona (#16) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Pesaro: M.Imbro 28+3reb+3ast, K.Ahmad 25+3reb+3ast, O.Maretto 16+5reb, V.King 13+4reb+2ast, Q.De Laurentiis 6+5reb+2ast, S.Zanotti 3+6reb
Vigevano: M.Mack 20+7reb+9ast, G.Leardini 17+4reb+2ast, A.Smith 14+5reb+1ast, K.Strautmanis 9+2reb, M.Galassi 7+3reb+4ast, F.Rossi 7+3reb+2ast
gschID: 1184570
Milano Urania – Torino 72-73
A very close game took place in Milano between Torino and Milano Urania. Thirteenth ranked Torino (9-12) got a very close victory on the road over higher ranked Milano Urania (13-8). Torino managed to escape with a 1-point win 73-72 on Wednesday evening. It was quite big embarassment for the home team. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Milano Urania. Torino made 18-of-22 free shots (81.8 percent) during the game. Nigerian-American forward Ife Josh Ajayi (201-1996, college: USA, agency: Players Group) nailed 15 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side and American swingman Kevion Taylor (196-1999, college: Valpo) accounted for 22 points. Torino’s coach Matteo Boniciolli used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American guard Nathanial Potts (188-1995, college: MTSU) came up with 24 points and 4 assists and the former international swingman Alessandro Gentile (201-1992) added 25 points and 4 assists respectively for Milano Urania in the defeat. Torino moved-up to twelfth place, which they share with Brindisi and Orzinuovi. Loser Milano Urania keeps the fifth position with eight games lost. They share it with Verona. Torino will meet at home Orzinuovi (#13) in the next round. Milano Urania will play against Pesaro (#11) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Torino: K.Taylor 22+1reb+3ast, M.Schina 15+5reb+4ast, I.Josh Ajayi 15+8reb+4ast, A.Gallo 6+3reb, F.Seck 5+6reb, M.Montano 5+2reb+1ast
Milano Urania: A.Gentile 25+1reb+4ast, N.Potts 24+3reb+4ast, I.Joseph Udanoh 9+12reb+3ast, L.Cesana 6+5reb+2ast, L.Maspero 5+3reb+1ast, A.Amato 3+4reb+7ast
gschID: 1184571
Nardo – Avellino 89-80
There was a surprise result when nineteenth ranked Nardo (6-15) beat at home higher ranked Avellino (12-9) 89-80 on Wednesday. The former international power forward Antonio Iannuzzi (208-1991) nailed 16 points and 9 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) for the winning side and Cameroonian guard Aristide Mouaha (191-2000) accounted for 21 points and 4 assists. Five Nardo players scored in double figures. American Jaren Lewis (201-1996, college: ACU) came up with 22 points and 7 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) and the other American import forward Marcellus Earlington (198-2000, college: San Diego, agency: Octagon Europe) added 13 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for Avellino in the defeat. Avellino’s coach Alessandro Crotti rotated ten players in this game, but that didn’t help. Nardo moved-up to eighteenth place, which they share with Cento. Newly promoted Avellino keeps the seventh position with nine games lost. They share it with Fortitudo and Rieti. Nardo will meet at home league’s second-placed Udine in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Avellino will play against Brindisi (#14) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Nardo: A.Mouaha 21+2reb+4ast, R.Zugno 16+4reb+4ast, A.Iannuzzi 16+9reb+2ast, W.Stewart Jr 14+6reb+1ast, L.Donadio 12+2reb, M.Giuri 8+3ast
Avellino: J.Lewis 22+7reb+1ast, F.Mussini 15+4reb+1ast, M.Earlington 13+7reb+4ast, M.Bortolin 9+1reb, M.Jurkatamm 6+3reb, R.Chinellato 5+4reb+2ast
gschID: 1184572
