TREVISO (Lega A) - Benetton Treviso beat Armani Jeans Milano in an intense Game Five decider on Saturday evening to reach the Lega A play-off semi-finals.
The 81-66 win at a packed Palaverde Pavilion allowed David Blatt's team to avenge last year's post-season exit at the hands of Milano.
Marcus Goree had 17 points for the hosts while five other Benetton players finished in double figures.
Italian wizard Andrea Bargnani, a 6ft 11in power forward who is a potential NBA lottery pick and was closely watched during the contest by Toronto Raptors coach Sam Mitchell, had 15 points and five rebounds and also blocked three shots.
Benetton's Ramunas Siskauskas, the Lithuania international, returned to action after a four-game absence with a thigh injury and scored 11 points.
The home side took control early, leading 27-17 at the end of the first quarter and they extended that to 45-31 at half-time.
Sasha Djordjevic's Milan upped their defensive intensity in the third quarter and reduced the deficit to seven points at 52-45 with Joseph Blair, who was his team's top scorer with 17 points, providing the goods in attack.
That was as close as Milano got as former Maryland Terps guard Drew Nicholas made consecutive baskets to give Benetton a 56-45 advantage heading into the final period.
Benetton kept their cool in the last two minutes of the game and Marco Mordente's effectiveness from the free-throw line, where he made eight of eight, put the game beyond Milano's reach.
Blatt's side will now meet Lottomatica Roma, who upset Montepaschi Siena in their quarter-final tie.
Siskauskas could not hide his delight with his return to the court.
"I had practically no time to prepare for this game," he admitted.
"I only had one training session with the team but I did watch the last four games.
"I have tried to give my best tonight and I think I have helped the team.
"I think the key to our victory was that we all played well together and we were all charged up to revenge last season's exit."
As for Mitchell, he spoke at half-time of Bargnani.
"He's definitely an NBA player, and we are taking a look at him," said Mitchell on Sky Sport Italia.
"He's playing well and he's a strong player."
From Cindy Garcia-Bennett, PA Sport, Rome