After a tough season recovering from an injury in one knee Benetton's 2.24 center Samuel Deguara ('91) showed yesterday in Bologna that he is on the good way. Some weeks ago Eurohopes talked with him (interview) and he was clear with his words: "I hope I'll play the U-19 finals in Bologna". In the game to decide the first team of goup C in the U-19 italian final round championship the prospect of Malta appeared leading his team to the victory over Scavolini with a 31 valoration: 20 points (8/14 twos and 4/10 ft), 20 rebounds and 1 block. Great job for him. Let's check what happened in the other games. Benetton, Virtus Bologna, Montepaschi Siena and Bergamo have already a spot in quarterfinals. Today we'll know other four.
Group A:
-Teramo 55 Montepaschi 74: Both teams arrived to this game with a 2-0 record. Siena squad had a difficult goal stopping Achile Polonara ('91), but they did it and all was easier. The forward of Teramo didn't shine as the pevious games finishing with 8 points (3/10 FG), 13 rebounds and 3 blocks. Montepaschi qualifyied for the next round with youngster Nunzio Sabattino ('92) nailing 16 points (7/11 FG), grabbing 4 boards and dishing 4 assists.
-Udine 68 Trieste 60: First win in the tournament of team coached by Giancarlo Stradolini, keeping their chances and staying alive. Mirza Alibegovic ('92) -son of former player and current Udine GM Teoman- led the winners with 25 points (7/20 FG), 7 rebounds and 3 steals, while Marco Maganza ('91) added 17 points and 21 boards, even 9 turnovers. For Trieste Alessandro Scutiero ('92) poured 15 with 5/6 FG.
Standings: Montepaschi (3-0), Teramo (2-1), Udine (1-2) and Trieste (0-3).
Group B:
-Virtus Bologna 83 Stella Azzurra 66: Who took the spot for quarterfinals? Team coached by Giordano Consolini is between the best eight teams of the country after beating Roma squad due to the great performance of international Riccardo Moraschini ('92). The prospect nailed 20 points with 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Guard Simone Colonnelli ('91) finished as the best scorer of Stella Azzurra with 16 points and 7 rebounds.
-Pordenone 68 Reggiana 82: In a live-or-die game Reggiana keeps his chances after winning 68-82. 7-foot center Riccardo Cervi ('91) was the key of the victory with 17 points (7/11 FG) and 7 rebounds. For Pordenone youngtser Mattia Galli ('92) poured 21 with 4/8 from downtown. Squad coached by Andrea Menozzi will try to make it today.
Standings: Virtus Bologna (3-0), Stella Azzurra (2-1), Reggiana (1-2) and Pordedone (0-3).
Group C:
-Benetton 60 Scavolini 50: One of the tickets of the quarterfinals was given in this game, with two teams arriving unbeaten. Maltese Samuel Deguara ('91) led Treviso squad with 20 points and 20 rebounds, while Alessandro Gentile ('92) struggled: 9 points with 4/16 FG and 5 turnovers for a -7 valoration. At Scavolini side Alessandro Amici ('91) scored 21, but with bad percentages (8/23 FG), while Emidio Di Donato ('92) collected a double-double: 14 points and 11 boards.
-Moncalieri 71 Tiber 65: First win for team coached by Stefano Comazzi, and they still dream with quarterfinals. Good job of Riccardo Milone ('92), leading his teammates with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 2 steals. Forward Stefano Rambaldi ('91) finished as the best scorer of a team with no options to continue after a 0-3 record: 21 with 5/12 behind the arc.
Standings: Benetton (3-0), Scavolini (2-1), Moncalieri (1-2) and Tiber (0-3).
Group D:
-Fortitudo 70 Bergamo 83: Orobica finished the first round unbeaten with youngster Sebastiano Bianchi ('92) leading the third win in three games with 19 points (8/10 FG) in only 20'. His teammate Claudio Gotti ('91) also made a good job for winners finishing with a double-double: 10 points and 10 boards. For Fortitudo shined Matteo Chillo ('93), nailing 12 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.
-Desio 51 Eurobasket 59: Roma team finished second of the group after winning Desio in a final with the free throws scored being one of the keys. Youngster Daniele Tomasiello ('93) led the victory with a double-double (11 points and 13 boards). For Desio forward Marco Torgano ('91) nailed 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, but with an amazing 1/13 from downtown (!!!).
Standings: Bergamo (3-0), Eurobasket (2-1), Fortitudo (1-2) and Desio (0-3).
The winners of these four games will make it to quarterfinals also: Stella Azzurra - Udine, Reggiana - Teramo, Scavolini - Fortitudo and Moncalieri - Eurobasket.
Photo: FIP
