ITA – Roma roll over Milano; Benetton crash to defeat at Teramo

ROME (Lega A) - Lottomatica Roma followed up their home win over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Euroleague with an 80-62 rout of Armani Jeans Milano in the Lega A.

Sasa Filipovski's Romans, whipped the previous weekend at Benetton Treviso, are in eighth place.

They only led 36-35 at half-time but outscored Milano 20-8 in the third quarter to take command.

Roma made seven of their 12 shots in the quarter and sank six of eight free-throws while Milano, who are third in the standings, were just two of 13 from the floor and four of six at the line.

Roma also came up with six steals in the frame, including two by Andrea Crosariol.

Charles Smith finished with 18 points for Roma, who can now focus on domestic matters after failing to progress from the Euroleague Top 16.

"Congratulations to my players, who gave more than 100%," Filipovski said.

"We feared Milano, a team that we respect so much as I respect (coach) Dan Peterson.

"We played great defense, especially in the second half, and players have given every ounce of their strength."

Filipovski had already faced Milano before this season, as he served as an assistant coach to Dusko Vujosevic at CSKA Moscow and the teams met in the Euroleague although that Milano team at Piero Bucchi at the helm before his sacking in January.

"Both times we were beaten," Filipovski said.

"They are definitely a very talented team and their league position is confirmed."

The up-and-down season of Benetton continued.

Jasmin Repesa's team, in the last eight of the Eurocup and fresh off an 84-68 home triumph over Cajasol Sevilla to clinch first place in Group L, fell 78-72 at Lega A strugglers Banca Tercas Teramo.

Benetton led 38-34 at half-time but fell apart in the third quarter when Teramo buried four of nine shots from the arc, forced the visitors to commit six of their 18 turnovers and outscored them 26-16.

"The championship is long and there are goals to be achieved, so now to improve we will have a lot of work in the gym and try not to commit many more mistakes as in Teramo,” Repesa said.

“The statistics speak for themselves.”

Four-time defending champions Montepaschi Siena, fresh off their mauling of Real Madrid in the Euroleague, claimed a 75-67 victory at Angelico Biella to improve to 19-2.

Siena's Lithuania international Ksistof Lavrinovic had 17 points and Shaun Stonerook 10 along with nine boards as they four games clear of Benett Cantu (15-6), who rolled to a 91-67 victory at home over Air Avellino.

Fourth-place Virtus Bologna (12-9) edged hosts Fabi Shoes Montegranaro, 75-72.

Fabi Shoes are now 9-12 and in 12th place.

Dinamo Sassari are seventh following an 80-75 victory over sixth-place Scavolini Pesaro, a result that left both sides with 10-11 records like Roma.

Pepsi Caserta are also 10-11 and ninth in the standings after a 90-76 demolition bottom side Enel Brindisi (6-15).

Caserta are in the Eurocup Last Eight.

11th-place Cimberio Varese won 76-71 over 10th-place Vanoli-Braga Cremona in the other game.

Both teams are 9-12.

FIBA