ROMA - Temperatures were rising as Armani Jeans Milano's Massimo Bulleri posted a 56-44 win over Eldo Napoli's Richard Mason Rocca in an unusual duel between the two giants.

The Italian national team players have already shown on the basketball court that they are adept at pouring in the points.

And those pouring skills came in useful as they competed against eachother in a steamy atmosphere in "La Prova del Cuoco" - an Italian TV cookery programme, hosted by Antonella Clerici who started her career as a basketball journalist before moving on to cookery.

It was Bulleri who won a contest that for a long-time was on a knife edge with Rocca left with the wooden spoon in an encounter that had plenty of spice in it.

Bulleri, egged on by top Italian chef Gilberto Rossi, proved too good for Rocca who had another top cook Martino Scarpa on his team.

Bulleri showed he was worth his salt as he produced a veal dish with sesame and chicory, a carrot risotto and an almond pastry as dessert.

Rocca went into his task with relish, rustling up veal with tomato and onions in a sweet and sour sauce as well as a new potato and pasta dish.

All 100 members of the studio audience cast a vote and it was Bulleri who brought home the bacon with 56 votes although Rocca was hardly panned, as he scored 44.

Tom Ross
FIBA