 Stella Azzurra registered its first win in the Torneo Citta de Roma semifinals by edging Montepaschi Siena 67-71 in Group B on Tuesday. Both teams tie for second place at 1-1, right behind undefeated leader KK Zagreb. Matteo Fallucca paced the winners with 15 points. Bruno Duranti added 12 while Alessandro Paesano had 10 for Stella. Diego Monaldi led Montepaschi with 17 points while Giovanni Severini added 13. Fallucca had 5 points in an early 0-7 run that gave Stella a 2-7 lead. It didn't long however, as Monaldi had 5 points in an 11-0 run that he capped with a triple for a 16-9 Montepaschi lead. Back-to-back triples by Severini and Marco Perin boosted Montepaschi's lead to 22-13. A layup by Giovani Esposito fixed the score at 22-15 after 10 minutes. Fallucca and Mirco Turl sank respectibe triples in a 2-9 run that got Stella within 26-24. Monaldi tried to change things for Montepaschi but back-to-back baskets by Paesano and Mario Delle Cave tied it at 38-38. Severeni gave Montepaschi some fresh air, 42-38, at halftime. Stella found a new go-to guy in Duranti, who kept his team in the game, 47-47, midway through the third quarter. Montepaschi, however, used free throws to keep a 53-51 edge after 30 minutes. A three-point play by Monaldi gave Montepaschi some fresh air, 58-53, with under 6 minutes left. Azzurra did not give up, however, and a jumper by Alessandro Guadagnini tied it at 60-60. Bianchi scored again but Guadagnini and Fallucca completed Azzurra's comeback, 62-64, with over 2 minutes left. Guadagnini's late heroics soon gave Azzurra a 63-67 edge and free throws by Delle Cave and Duranti sealed the outcome down the stretch.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Euroleague.net
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