ITA - Milano win to keep pace with Mens Sana

MILAN (Lega A) - Armani Jeans Milano have done nothing but win since luring club great Dan Peterson back into coaching.

Olimpia defeated Banca Tercas Teramo on Sunday for their fourth successive victory under the 75-year-old Peterson and remained two games behind Montepaschi Siena.

Montepaschi hit back from their narrow Euroleague Top 16 setback at Efes Pilsen and won 70-62 over Vanoli-Braga Cremona to improve to 15-1.

Before the game, Armani Jeans (13-3) reinforced their frontline with the signing of Benjamin Eze, one of the players in Simone Pianigiani's Montepaschi side that helped the club win four straight Lega A crowns.

Eze began the season in Russia at BC Khimki but has returned to Italy and will now try to help Peterson and Milano beat his former team to the title.

"He will give us a big hand because he is a big intimidator and will certainly raise the quality of defense," Peterson said.

Lynn Greer had 14 points on his debut with Armani Jeans after arriving from Fenerbahce last week.

Greer played 26 minutes and was two of five from long range.

Peterson always tells it like it is and after the victory, he said his team can do a lot better.

"We won and I am happy about this, but honestly we have not played well," Peterson said.

A couple of players who are important members of their national teams had solid games for Milano.

Jonas Maciulis, the bronze-medal winner with Lithuania at last year's FIBA World Championship in Turkey, had 11 points and nine rebounds while Ukraine's Oleksiy Pecherov poured in 13 points and corralled eight boards.

Storm clouds are gathering over Treviso where Jasmin Repesa's Benetton fell to 14th place after a 77-53 drubbing at Air Avellino.

Benetton have done well in the Eurocup but Italy has been a different story.

Repesa's side has just six wins in 16 league games.

Even better for Avellino is that their 65-year-old senior assistant coach, Antonio Zorzi, found out he will be inducted into the Italian Basketball Hall of Fame in the class of 2010 with Massimo Masini, Lidia Gorlin, Pasquale Ardito, Amedeo Salerno, Maurizio Martolini and Sergio Stefanini.

"I want to thank everyone,” said Zorzi, who was caught off guard by the news.

"I arrived at the arena not knowing anything about the Hall of Fame, having been informed by journalists."

Bennet Cantu strengthened their grip on third place in Lega A with an 83-67 win over Canadian Solar Bologna, who despite being 8-8 are in fifth place.

Nicolas Mazzarino connected on six of his seven shots from long range and had 23 points for Cantu.

Pepsi Caserta will be in confident mood for their trip to CEZ Nymburk in the Czech Republic in the Eurocup Last 16 as they edged an 83-81 thriller at Angelico Biella (7-9).

Sasa Filipovski tasted victory at the helm of Lottomatica Roma for the first time in an 84-80 win at second-bottom Enel Brindisi.

Anthony Roberson pulled the hosts to within just two points in the last minute after getting fouled while attempting a three-ball and making three free-throws.

But Darius Washington earned a trip to the line and sank both of his attempts and Bobby Dixon missed a three-ball at the other end.

Charles Smith of Roma and Roberson each had 23 points.

In other games, Fabi Shoes Montegranaro held on for an 81-80 triumph at Dinamo Sassari and Scavolini Siviglia Pesaro won 74-72 over Cimberio Varese.

Pesaro found themselves knotted at 70-70 in the last minute after a basket by Varese's Diego Fajardo.

After Puerto Rico international Guillermo Diaz made one of two free-throws, Varese's Ronald Slay then turned the ball over, only for Diaz to also hand possession back to the visitors.

Slay scored for a 72-71 Varese advantage, but Diaz went to the other end and put the hosts back in front before Phil Goss turned the ball over again for the visitors.

Diaz made one of two at the charity stripe for the final score.

FIBA