Bologna finds Tortona, Milan against Trento

It outlines the playoff grid without surprises, even if Olimpia Milano is about to pull one of its own, risking losing to Cremona, already safe. It starts on Saturday 11 May and there will be at least one match every day until mid-June. First is Virtus Segafredo Bologna who beat Trento 108-61 without six players and will start the play offs with the home advantage until the eventual final. Second, as mentioned, Milan fell behind by 11 points to Cremona, recovered, but with 40 seconds to go they were still four down. A triple by Melli 1.2 seconds from the end gives the final 72-73 which also nullifies the victory of Germani Brescia, 94-75 against the already relegated Brindisi who finish last in the standings. (here is the Lega Basket article presenting the play offs)

No surprises in the queue though: the second relegated to A2 is Carpegna Prosciutto Pesaro who leaves the top flight after 17 consecutive years. The Marche team started well in Venice, finishing ahead by 2 at the long break, but a third period of 35-11 for Reyer effectively closed the match (it ended 91-79). The party can therefore begin at the Pala Verde in Treviso where the home team immediately sets the record straight against Tortona and wins 87-74 with Harrison scoring 27 points and Olisevicius scoring 16 and 11 rebounds. It is the second time in the history of Serie A that a team that started with zero wins and nine defeats is saved at the end of the season. The Treviso management did well in keeping coach Vitucci until the end despite the difficulties and in knowing how to correct the roster on the go with targeted players.

Varese closes well and passes to Pistoia, which has been slowing down in recent weeks but will go to the play-offs in sixth place and will face Brescia in a match and a rivalry that has been renewed for years. The same goes for Sassari and Napoli who easily beat Reggio Emilia and Scafati at the end of two matches that have nothing to ask of the league table.

THE FINAL RANKING OF THE REGULAR SEASON

1. Segafredo Bologna 44 points
2. EA7 Olimpia Milano 44
3. Germani Brescia 42
4. Human Venice 38
5. Una Hotels Reggio Emilia 32
6. Estra Pistoia 30
7. Dolomiti Energia Trentino 30
8. Bertram Tortona 28
9. Ge.Vi. Naples 28
10. Banco Sardegna Sassari 28
11. Vanoli Cremona 24
12. Givova Scafati 24
13. Nutribullet Treviso 24
14. Openjobmetis Varese 24
15. Carpegna Prosciutto Pesaro 20
16. Happy Casa Brindisi 20

Playoffs
FIRST BOARD (starting Saturday 11 May)
1 VIRTUS SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA
8 BERTRAM DERTHONA TORTONA

4 UMANA REYER VENICE
5 UNAHOTELS REGGIO EMILIA

SECOND SCOREBOARD (starting Sunday 12 May)
2 EA7 EMPORIO ARMANI MILAN

7 DOLOMITES ENERGY TRENTINO

3 GERMANI BRESCIA
6 EXTRA PISTOIA

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