ITA – Two in a row for birthday boy Peterson

CREMONA (Lega A) - Armani Jeans Milano boss Dan Peterson has pulled all the right strings so far since his return to coaching.

Olimpia gave the veteran the perfect 75th birthday present by winning at Vanoli Braga Cremona on Sunday, 78-71.

The result means that Peterson's Milano are 2-0 since he agreed to replace Piero Bucchi at the helm this week and coach for the first time in 24 years.

"For us, this was a very difficult game," Peterson said.

"I once again thank my players since they have brought great energy, and my assistants for the great job they did both before the game, and for making the right suggestions during the contest."

Olimpia improved to 11-3 but remained two games adrift of four-time defending champions Montepaschi Siena, who prevailed 92-83 at home over Dinamo Sassari.

F.Y.R. of Macedonia guard Bo McCalebb had 17 points for Siena.

Lottomatica Roma have got it right in the Euroleague by making it to the Top 16 of that competition but in the 16-team Lega A, they're continuing to struggle with Sunday's 87-79 setback at Virtus Bologna dropping the Eternal City club to 6-8 and 12th place.

Nevertheless, Roma, who only had eight players that got minutes against Bologna, are just a game outside of the eight play-off places in a very tight Lega A.

Kennedy Winston had 22 points and Finland international Petteri Koponen 14 for Virtus, who trailed 63-56 but then outscored Roma 31-16 in the last quarter.

Roma coach Matteo Boniciolli said after the defeat: "We played good basketball for 30 minutes.

“We were then punished for a lack of lucidity and a limited rotation and that was evident in the fourth quarter."

Fabi Shoes Montegranaro are 7-7 and in fourth place, Angelico Biella are 7-6 and in fifth while in sixth, seventh and eighth are Air Avellino, Virtus Bologna and Scavolini Pesaro (all 7-7).

Braga, Pepsi Caserta, Cimberio Varese, Roma and Benetton Treviso are all 6-8 and Dinamo Sassari 5-9.

Last-place Enel Brindisi (3-10) host Angelico Biella on Monday night.

Lega A results: Scavolini 69 Avellino 80, Montepaschi 92 Dinamo Sassari 83, Caserta 89 Teramo 81, Bennet Cantu'75 Benetton Treviso 65, Virtus Bologna 87 Lottomatica Roma 79, Montegranaro 107 Varese 77, Cremona 71 Milano 78.

FIBA