ITA – Recalcati enjoys important win over rival Peterson as Varese secure Lega A status

VARESE (Lega A) - The Eurocup that was staged in Treviso wasn't the only basketball played in Italy over the weekend.
 
The Lega A didn’t take a break but instead had a near full schedule of games and in one of them, Cimberio Varese beat rivals Armani Jeans Milano 82-71 to leapfrog Benetton Treviso into fifth place.
 
Varese trailed Armani Jeans 56-55 entering the last quarter but won with Phil Goss' 22 points leading the charge.
 
Carlo Recalcati's side improved to 13-13.
 
Finland international point guard Teemu Rannikko hit three of his shots from long range and finished with 12 points for Varese.
 
Estonian Kristjan Kangur also hit three shots from the arc and finished with 16 points for the winners.
 
Milano, who are coached by veteran Dan Peterson, slumped to 18-8 but are third in the table at 18-8.
 
Recalcati didn’t seem too impressed by the turnout at his press conference after the game.
 
"When I started to work there was Peterson who would be annoying because everyone wanted him in the press conference and when I arrived, there was no longer anyone,” Recalcati said.
 
“The years have gone by, Peterson has returned, he speaks to a packed press conference and now with me, there's no one!
 
“Who cares, honestly, we have won, he has lost and this is the thing that counts.
 
“We are safe (from relegation), even the math states this and this is extremely important.
 
“To beat Olimpia always gives me a great satisfaction."
 
Air Avellino (13-13) are in fourth place after beating hosts Pepsi Caserta (12-14), 83-75.
 
Caserta slipped to 11th in the table.
 
Enel Brindisi prevailed 87-76 over Tercas Teramo in their relegation battle to climb above them into 15th in the 16-team Lega A.
 
The bottom two sides by season's end will fall into the Legadue.
 
Kris Lang had 22 points and Bobby Dixon 21 for Brindisi, who trail 14th-place Angelico Biella (9-17) in the table but have a game in hand.
 
Biella lost 82-77 at second-place Bennet Cantu (20-66).
 
Montepaschi Siena (22-2) were idle with their opponents this round, Benetton (13-12), hosting the Eurocup Finals.
 
Fabi Shoes Montegranaro are in 13th place at 10-16 after losing 66-56 at home to Scavolini Siviglia Pesaro.
 
Dinamo Sassari are up to eighth at 12-14 following an 86-85 home win over Lottomatica Roma.
 
James White had 24 points for the winners, including two go-ahead free-throws at the end after being fouled by France international Ali Traore.
 
Roma, who played in the Euroleague this season, are now 12-14 and in serious danger of missing out on the Lega A post-season.
 
Only the top eight sides will compete in the play-offs.
 
Kelvin Rivers erupted for 23 points as Virtus Bologna claimed a 95-88 victory at Vanoli-Braga Cremona.
 
Virtus (13-13) are seventh in the standings and Cremona 12th (11-15).
 
FIBA