ITA - Benetton victory puts troubles in shade

THEASSALONIKI (Euroleague) - Benetton Treviso put their troubles behind them with a crucial 80-79 win over Aris TT Bank in Greence on Thursday night.

It has been a difficult week for Benetton, who were found to be in breach of Italian basketball regulations in regards to the signing of forward Erazem Lorbek from Unicaja earlier this year.

The 23-year-old was forced to cancel his contract with the Treviso team and he subsequently signed with Lottomatica Roma on a deal until the end of the season.

But none of that mattered as Benetton hung on in the final seconds for a win that lifts them into a first-place tie with Unicaja and Dynamo Moscow in Group G.

Nikos Zisis, playing against his hometown team, put Benetton ahead by three inside the final minute but Terrel Castle closed the gap to one and a Benetton turnover gave Aris a chance to steal victory.

But Savvas Iliadis and Giorgios Sigalas failed to get a shot off in time and Benetton escaped.

Terrell Lyday’s 19 points led Benetton, who also got 13 from Zisis.

Iliadis scored a season-high 23 while Alex Scales had 18 for Aris.

Derrick Sharp led the fightback as Israeli champions Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv fought back for a 74-70 win over Pau-Orthez.

Pau had led by 12 in the third-quarter but let it slip as Sharp scored nine unanswered points to turn the game in favour of the hosts.

Lior Eliyahu led Maccabi with 16 points, while Simas Jasaitus added 13 and Nikola Vujcic collected 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Sharp finished with 11 points.

Britton Johnsen led Pau with 20 points, all of which came in the first half, while Aaron Miles had 15.

The result leaves Pau winless in Group D while Maccabi move to 2-1 before their crunch meeting with Tau Ceramica next week.

CSKA Moscow remain unbeaten in Group E after thrashing Olympiacos 85-64 on the road.

Matjaz Smodis made four of five from beyond the arc to lead the victory with 19 points.

Theo Papaloukas added 15 off the bench against his former team, while JR Holden had 14, Oscar Torres 12 and Trajan Langdon 10 for the Russians.

Sofoklis Schortsianitis had 13 points for Olympiacos while Andrija Zizic added 10.

The game was effectively over by half-time with CSKA holding a 47-25 lead.

Group E’s other game saw Partizan record their first win in the Top 16 as they beat DKV Joventut 85-70.

Sixteen points from Predrag Drobnjak and 15 more from Vonteego Cummings powered Partizan to victory.

Elmer Bennett and Rudy Fernandez had 16 each for DKV.

In Group F, Spain international Juan Carlos Navarro scored 24 points - sinking six of 10 from three-point range - to lead Winterthur FC Barcelona to an 82-73 win over Efes Pilsen.

Jaka Lakovic added 15 and Jordi Trias and Fran Vazquez had 10 apiece for Barcelona.

American Marcus Haislip led Efes with 18 points.

Ian Parker
FIBA