Italian League, Game 13: December 29-31, 2006 Montepaschi Siena and VidiVici Bologna share the lead atop the Italian League standings with 10-3 records after Siena topped champion Benetton Treviso and VidiVici lost to Eldo Napoli. Montepaschi took the big showdown of the week by thrashing Benetton 82-63 in Siena on Saturday. Rimantas Kaukenas led the winners with 19 points. Nikos Zisis and Spencer Nelson had 13 points each for Benetton, which kept its chances alive throughout the first half until Siena opted to speed up the game tempo. Eldo Napoli improved to 8-5 by edging VidiVici Bologna 81-78 at home on Saturday. Ansu Sesay led Napoli with 19 points, including back-to-back triples in crunch time. Free throws by Simone Flamini allowed Napoli to clinch the big win. Lottomatica Roma improved to 7-6 by beating Angelico Biella 82-69 at home behind 17 points from David Hawkins, while Climamio Bologna edged Siviglia Wear Teramo 88-84. James Thomas had 20 points for Climamio. Snaidero Cucine Udine dropped to 5-8 due to a 75-63 road loss at TDShop.it Livorno. In other games, Armani Jeans Milano edged Upea Capo d'Orlando 67-69, Premiata Montegranaro topped Air Avellino while Legea Scafati needed overtime to beat Whirlpool Varese 88-80 behind 28 points on 15-of-15 free throws from Rick Apodaca. Montepaschi Siena improved to 10-3 and is now tied for the top spot in the standings after thrashing Benetton Treviso 82-63 at home on Saturday. Kaukenas led the winners with 19 points. Romain Sato added 14 while Joseph Forte and Terrell McIntyre each had 11 for Montepaschi. Zisis and Nelson each had 13 points for Benetton. A layup by Angelo Gigli allowed Benetton to get a 17-18 edge after 10 minutes. McIntyre and Sato allowed the hosts to regain its momentum and get a 32-28 lead at halftime. Montepaschi returned with a new game plan, trying to speed up the game tempo and attack the basket. Sato, Kaukenas and a final basket by Sato gave Siena a 53-46 after three quarters. A 9-1 run which Vladimer Boisa capped with a jumper was enough for Montepaschi to seal the win, 73-55, with several minutes to go. Lottomatica Roma improved to 7-6 by beating Angelico Biella 82-69 at home. Hawkins paced the winners with 17 points, Mire Chatman, Loukas Mavrokefalidis and Dejan Bodiroga each added 13 while Luca Garri had 11 for Roma. A 11-0 opening run which Chatman capped with a layup allowed Lottomatica to get a 28-14 lead after 10 minutes. Biella cut its deficit to 42-34 at halftime and then again to 59-54 with 5 minutes to go. Hawkins and Mavrokefalidis stepped up to make Lottomatica keep a safe margin until the final buzzer. Eldo Napoli confirmed its good moment and improved to 8-5 by edging VidiVici Bologna 81-78 at home on Saturday. Sesay led Napoli with 19 points, Mason Rocca added 16 on 6-of-7 two-pointers and 8 rebounds. Tyrone Ellis and Michel Morandais each had 13 for the winners. Ellis, Sesay and Morandais scored from downtown in a 13-3 opening run which allowed Napoli to get a 28-17 lead after 10 minutes. An outstanding Morandais and a big triple by Ellis helped the hosts to keep a 50-40 lead at halftime. VidiVici did not surrender, however, and got its first lead, 65-67, midway through the final period. Sesay stepped up with consecutive three-pointers and Napoli did not trailed from that moment, but Travis Best brought the guests within 79-78. Flamini sealed the win with free throws down the stretch. Climamio Bologna had to battle hard to beat Siviglia Wear Teramo 88-84 and improve to 6-7. Thomas led the way with 20 points, Marco Belinelli added 18, Tyus Edney and David Bluthenthal each had 15 while Stefano Mancinelli scored 10 points for Climamio, which trailed 81-82 with 2 minutes to go. Thomas, Bluthenthal and Daniele Cavaliero combined for 7 of 8 free throws which allowed the hosts to get a much-needed win. Snaidero Cucine Udine dropped to 5-8 due to a 75-63 road loss against TDShop.it Livorno. Kristaps Valters had 16 points for Udine, which trailed 42-25 at halftime and never recovered. LAST GAME GAME 13 - December 30-31, 2006 Day Match Result Dec. 30 Climamio BO vs. Siviglia Wear TE 88-84 Dec. 30 Eldo Napoli vs. VidiVici BO 81-78 Dec. 30 Lottomatica Roma vs. Angelico Biella 82-69 Dec. 30 Montepaschi Siena vs. Benetton Treviso 82-63 Dec. 30 TDShop.it Livorno vs. Snaidero Udine 75-63 Dec. 31 Pall. Cantu vs. Bipop Carire - Dec. 30 Upea C. d'Orlando vs. Armani Jeans MI 67-69 Dec. 30 Legea Scafati vs. Whirlpool Varese 88-80 Dec. 30 Premiata Monte. vs. Air Avellino 81-75 NEXT GAME GAME 14 - January 6-7, 2007 Day Match Jan. 7 Benetton Treviso vs. Climamio BO Jan. 7 Snaidero Udine vs. Eldo Napoli Jan. 7 Armani Jeans MI vs. Montepaschi Siena Jan. 6 VidiVici BO vs. Angelico Biella Jan. 7 Whirlpool Varese vs. Lottomatica Roma Jan. 7 TDShop.it Livorno vs. Legea Scafati Jan. 6 Siviglia Wear TE vs. Bipop Carire Jan. 7 Premiata Monte. vs. Upea C. d'Orlando Jan. 7 Air Avellino vs. Pall. Cantu STANDINGS TG W L P+ P- 1 Montepaschi Siena 13 10 3 1085 959 2 VidiVici Bologna 13 10 3 1019 893 3 Armani Jeans Milano 13 9 4 1057 994 4 Eldo Napoli 13 8 5 1012 967 5 Benetton Treviso 13 7 6 940 943 6 Premiata Montegranaro 13 7 6 1028 1007 7 Upea Capo d'Orlando 13 7 6 990 1009 8 Lottomatica Roma 13 7 6 950 915 9 Whirlpool Varese 13 7 6 1067 1040 10 Angelico Biella 13 6 7 1045 1078 11 Climamio Bologna 13 6 7 1071 1066 12 Legea Scafati 13 6 7 1026 1083 13 Snaidero Cucine Udine 13 5 8 984 1034 14 Siviglia Wear Teramo 13 5 8 1070 1050 15 Air Avellino 13 4 9 1034 1067 16 Tisettanta Cantù 12 4 8 908 972 17 Bipop Carire R.Emilia 12 4 8 884 993 18 TDShop.it Livorno 13 4 9 938 1038 Saturday, December 30, 2006 Euroleague.net