ITA - Biella edge Premiata

ROME (Lega A) - Angelico Biella struck an important blow in the race for a play-off place in Lega A with an 88-87 overtime triumph over Premiata Montegranaro.

Valerio Amoroso had a chance to win Thursday's game in the final minute of the extra period for visiting Premiata but was off target with his shot and Biella rebounded the miss as time expired.

Jamel Thomas poured in 23 points to pace Biella, who are in seventh with 16 wins and 17 defeats - the same record as eighth-place Premiata.

The top eight sides in Lega A qualify for the post-season, and with Benetton Treviso appealing against a 15-point deduction for sporting fraud and hoping to climb back into the play-off zone, nothing is certain heading into the final weekend of the regular season.

Benetton won 90-64 over already-relegated TDShop.it Livorno.

Legea Scafati suffered a 103-84 home defeat to Montepaschi Siena, who have already clinched first place in the regular season.

Romain Sato had 24 points for Montepaschi.

Scafati are in 10th place with a 15-18 mark.

Climamio Bologna's dismal season continued with an 83-78 home defeat to play-off chasing Snaidero Udine (15-18), who are 11th.

Lottomatica Roma kept their noses in front of Armani Jeans Milano in the battle for second place as both sides won.

Mire Chatman had 21 points as Roma won 87-64 at home against relegation-threatened Air Avellino (12-21), while Dante Calabria caught fire for Armani Jeans, making six of eight shots from long range as they prevailed 83-68 at Bipop Carire Reggio Emilia.

The former North Carolina Tar Heel Calabria finished with 22 points.

In another game with play-off implications, fifth-place Eldo Napoli won at Tisettanta Cantu 82-76, with Italian international Mason Rocca scoring a game-high 24 points in a winning cause.

Cantu are in ninth place with a 16-17 record.

Virtus Bologna's hopes of claiming a top three seed for the play-offs were damaged in a 91-87 defeat at Siviglia Wear Teramo.

Virtus are now fourth and have, like Milano, a 21-12 record.

In the other game played on Thursday, sixth-place Whirlpool Varese defeated Upea Capo d'Orlando (12-21) 86-75.

FIBA