Italian League Semifinals, Game 2: June 2-3, 2007 Armani Jeans got closer to make it to the Italian League finals, as it beat VidiVici 78-81 in Bologna in Game 2 on Sunday and is just one win away from winning the best-of-five series. Kiwane Garris paced the winners with 33 points on 4-of-4 triples and 9-of-10 free throws. Travis Watson posted a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds while Danilo Gallinari had 12 points for Milano, that leads the series 2-0. Guilherme Giovannoni had 15 points for Virtus, Christian Drejer added 13 while Andrea Michelori and Vlado Ilievski each got 11 for the hosts. Meanwhile, Montepaschi managed to tie its semifinal series by topping Lottomatica Roma 76-84 in the Italian capital on Saturday. As such, Montepaschi regained the home court advantage and hosts Game 3 this week. Romain Sato led the winners with 21 points, Shaun Stonerook and Terrell McIntyre each added 13 while Joseph Forte had 10 for Montepaschi. Mire Chatman had 21 points for Roma, Dejan Bodiroga added 15, Erazem Lorbek 13 and David Hawkins 10. It was an intense battle in Bologna since the early going, as the first quarter saw as many as 13 lead changes. A put-back basket by Watson and a big triple by Garris gave Milano a 18-21 lead after 10 minutes. Garris stayed on fire, scoring 5 points in a 0-7 run that made it a double-digit game, 18-28. Michelori and Giovannoni led the Virtus' comeback, while a free throw by Fabio Di Bella tied it at 43-43 before Watson scored again for a 43-45 Mileno edge at halftime. Once again, Garris and Watson helped the guests to extend their margin to 47-55 early in the third quarter. VidiVici used a 15-3 run that Brett Blizzard capped with consecutive triples to regain the lead, 62-60, after 30 minutes. Michelori gave Virus its last lead, 78-77, with a free throw. Dante Calabria hit foul shots for Milano already in the final minute, Garris collected a critical steal while Galinarri made more free throws for a 78-81 score. Ilievski missed an off-balanced three-point shot in the final seconds. Montepaschi rolled in Rome in the early going, as Sato had 12 points in a 2-18 opening run that allowed Siena to keep a 10-21 lead at the end of the first quarter. A 10-0 run that Hawkins capped with a layup brought Roma back to life, 24-28, midway through the second quarter. Bodiroga and Chatman combined for 9 points in 2 minutes to get Roma even closer, 36-38, at halftime. A red hot Bodiroga followed a layup with a three-pointer to complete the hosts' comeback, 45-41. It didn't last long, however, as Rimantas Kaukenas and a three-pointer by Marco Carrareto allowed Montepaschi to regain a 54-61 lead after three quarters. Lorbek and Bodiroga got Roma within 60-64, but a 0-7 run in which Stonerook had 5 points broke the game for good. as Forte and McIntyre allowed Montepaschi to keep a safe lead in the final 2 minutes. ITALIAN LEAGUE: Semifinal Playoffs, best of 5 games Record Team Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5 1 Montepaschi Siena (1) 74 84 June 5 June 7 June 9* 1 Lottomatica Roma (4) 88 76 - - - 1 Armani Jeans Milano (2) 71 81 June 6 June 8 June 10* 1 VidiVici Bologna (3) 75 78 - - - Semifinal Playoffs Games Game 1 Montepaschi Siena vs. Lottomatica Roma 74-88 May 30 Game 1 Armani Jeans Milano vs. VidiVici Bologna 71-75 May 30 Game 2 Lottomatica Roma vs. Montepaschi Siena 76-84 June 2 Game 2 VidiVici Bologna vs. Armani Jeans Milano 78-81 June 3 Game 3 Montepaschi Siena vs. Lottomatica Roma - June 5 Game 3 Armani Jeans Milano vs. VidiVici Bologna - June 6 Game 4 Lottomatica Roma vs. Montepaschi Siena - June 7 Game 4 VidiVici Bologna vs. Armani Jeans Milano - June 8 Game 5 Montepaschi Siena vs. Lottomatica Roma - June 9* Game 5 Armani Jeans Milano vs. VidiVici Bologna - June 10* Sunday, June 03, 2007 Euroleague.net