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1970–71 Serie A (basketball)

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Serie A
Season1970–71
Duration18 October 1970 – 4 April 1971
Games played22
Teams12
Regular season
RelegatedLibertas Livorno
Cecchi Biella
Finals
ChampionsIgnis Varese
5th title
  Runners-upSimmenthal Milano
Statistical leaders
Points United States Gary Schull 24.5
Records
Highest scoringS. Milano 138–88 Udine
(24 March 1971)
Winning streak18 games
Ignis Varese
Losing streak12 games
Norda Bologna

The 1970–71 Serie A basketball championship was the 48th season of the Serie A, the highest professional basketball league in Italy.

The regular season ran from 18 October 1970 to 28 March 1971, twelve teams played 22 games each. As both Ignis Varese and Simmenthal Milano were tied first with the same head-to-head record (having only lost once apiece, to each other) a single playoff game decided the title, the third ever played between the two squads (one on-the-court win per side, respectively in 1962 and 1966).[1] Varese won the game played in Rome to earn their third straight championship, fifth overall (and the single spot in the European Champions Cup).

The other end of the league table also saw a tie, with three teams on the same points for two relegation spots, hence playoffs were also played where Libertas Livorno and Cecchi Biella (both newly promoted) were relegated back to the Serie B.

Preseason

Ignis Varese, who had the previous season completed the domestic double (league and Italian Cup) in addition to winning the European Champions Cup (adding the Intercontinental Cup before the season) were seen as the overwhelming favourites. Simmenthal Milano, All'Onestà Milano and on a lesser note Forst Cantù and Splügen Venezia were seen as the likely challengers.[2] All but one club had sponsorship names – widely the major source of revenue for clubs – with Libertas Livorno the involuntary exception.[2]

With only one foreign player allowed per club, nearly all were American, Varese's Mexican international Manuel Raga (considered the best foreigner in the league) and Splügen Venezia's newly arrived Brazilia international Ubiratan were the notable exceptions.[3] Ignis, led by Aca Nikolić, could still count on Raga, Dino Meneghin, Aldo Ossola, Ottorino Flaborea and Paolo Vittori, adding Italian international Ivan Bisson from Snaidero Udine whilst sending Claudio Malagoli and Livio Paschini the other way (American John Fultz was signed only for the European Champions Cup).[4] Simmenthal, coached by Cesare Rubini, had replaced on-off American Jim Tillman with compatriot Arthur Kenney,[3] the retirement of historic player Sandro Riminucci was the only other change. All'Onesta put their trust in the proven quartet of Joe Isaac, Tony Gennari, Enrico Bovone and Marino Zanatta, Forst Cantù had supplemented key players Carlo Recalcati and Alberto De Simone with American newcomer Bob Lienhard whilst an important move saw Dado Lombardi move from Norda Bologna to cross-town rivals Eldorado Bologna for 25 million lira.[5][6]

Regular season

Both Ignis and Simmenthal raced ahead of the others, so much that by the time they met each other in Varese on 27 December 1970 they were both unbeaten, with only Fides Napoli having provided any serious opposition. The game was already seen as title-deciding, Ignis had the best defence (60,1 points conceded per game to Simmenthal's 63.8) but the Milanese were more prolific in attack (81.8 points per game to Varese's 79.4) and were seen to have a slight edge over the holders.[7] Ultimately, Varese would win a hard-fought if not spectacular game 71-58, Meneghin out-rebounded Massimo Masini to score 16 points while Vittori and Flaborea dominated in attack (the first scoring a game-high 22 points). Though Giorgio Giomo shackled Raga well and Kenney put in a fighting performance (15 points), it was not enough for Simmenthal, not helped by an anonymous performance from Renzo Bariviera (3 points).[8]

When came the time to play the return game in Milan on the 14 March 1971 the situation remained unchanged with both teams having won all their games in between (including in Europe). The game, reportedly played at the highest level, saw a partial repeat of the first leg as an in-form Vittori again top-scored (25 points) whilst Flaborea (18 points) also stepped up when Giomo's good marking on Raga restricted the sharpshooter. However, this time Simmenthal stepped up to the challenge and an extremely combative Kenney dished up 20 points, including two free-throws with only seconds left, whilst Masini added as much, to grab a close 72-71 win. With both squads on the same points and with the same head-to-head record, a playoff game was seen as virtually guaranteed despite there being three rounds left to play as no team could challenge the leaders.[9] It proved to be the case as both squads easily won their final games to preserve the status-quo and make a playoff necessary. Simmenthal even recorded the most points scored in a league game by downing Snaidero Udine 138-88 in the final round on 24 April, four days before other games as Milano were playing the Cup Winners' Cup final.[a].[10] The 138 points record, replacing the 133 Simmenthal themselves had scored the previous season, stayed as league record for decades, it still is a club record as of 2015.[11][12]

Forst Cantù comfortably beat presumed title-challenger All'Onesta Milano 90-57 in Milan in the second round. They proved to be the surprise squad of the tournament as the emergence of an eighteen-year-old Pierluigi Marzorati at playmaker coupled with good performances from Lienhard and Recalcati led them to third-place,[13] 10 points from the leading duo but themselves 8 points in front of the rest of the pack led by All'Onesta Milano, an Ubiratan-led Splügen Venezia and a workmanlike Fides Napoli.

In the relegation battle, the two promoted squads Cecchi Biella and Libertas Livorno predictably struggled but managed to win the odd game (Biella was greatly helped by American import Rudy Bennett, third-best league scorer with 22.8 points per game).[1] At the same time Norda Bologna spent a large part of the season in free-fall, losing twelve consecutive games until a win over Snaidero Udine during the penultimate round enabled them to join Biella and Livorno on 10 points (from five wins).[14] All three lost their final game, which both Livorno and Biella had to play at a neutral venue (respectively Florence and Borgosesia) due to being penalised for previous crowd behaviour),[10] meaning a three-way playoff series was needed to decide relegation.[15]

Standings

class=notpageimage|
Serie A 1969–70 – Club Locations
Pos Teams P W L PF PA Champion or relegation
1 ● Ignis Varese 22 21 1 1805 1380 Title playoff (see below)
2 ● Simmenthal Milano 22 21 1 1845 1565
3 Forst Cantù 22 16 6 1768 1639
4 All'Onestà Milano 22 12 10 1665 1590
5 Splugen Venezia 22 11 11 1674 1622
6 Fides Napoli 22 10 12 1579 1580
7 ● Tropicali Boario Pesaro 22 9 13 1549 1608
8 ● Snaidero Udine 22 9 13 1655 1831
9 Eldorado Bologna 22 8 14 1598 1668
10 ● Libertas Livorno 22 5 17 1339 1561 Relegation playoffs (see below)
11 ● Norda Bologna 22 5 17 1425 1660
12 ● Cecchi Biella 22 5 17 1544 1742

Source: Lega Basket

● Ranking by head-to-head record in case of tie (see record).

Individual scoring table

Rank Name Team Points PPG
1. United States Gary Schull Eldorado Bologna 540 24.5
2. United States Joe Allen Snaidero Udine 524 23.8
3. United States Rudy Bennett Cecchi Biella 501 22.8
4. Mexico Manuel Raga Ignis Varese 499 22.7
5. Italy Massimo Masini Simmenthal Milano 477 21.7
6. Brazil Ubiratan Splügen Venezia 416 19.8
7. United States Bob Lienhard Forst Cantù 409 18.6
8. United States Vic Bartolome Libertas Livorno 370 17.6
9. United States Joe Isaac All'Onestà Milano 363 16.5
10. Italy Ottorino Flaborea Ignis Varese 357 16.2

Source: unofficial statistics compiled by the Giganti del Basket magazine (official statistics started from the 1975–76 season).[16]

Postseason

Title playoff

The title-deciding playoff was played as a single game on 3 April 1971 at a neutral venue, namely Rome's Palazzo dello Sport. It proved slightly anticlimactic as Ignis raced in front during the first minutes and never allowed Simmenthal back in the game on the way to securing a 65-57 win and their third straight league championship. Manuel Raga was the foremost contributor to Varese's lead, escaping first Giomo's then Giuseppe Brumatti's then Kenney's marking to score 17 points in 12 minutes whilst at the same time the normally accurate Giulio Iellini and Giomo were shooting astray for Milano. With Flaborea and Vittori also potent in attack and Meneghin in defence, Milano's task became even greater despite Masini's efforts as the half-time score read 39-21 for the champions. Though Simmenthal managed to reduce the deficit in the second half, the gulf was too big and Varese were comfortable enough to rest Raga and play eighth man Paolo Polzot (who had arrived from Biella that season and rarely came off the bench) for nearly all the half.[17]

Relegation playoffs

The relegation playoffs were played on the 2nd, 3rd and 4 April 1971 in Cantù (originally scheduled in Milan's Palalido, they were moved after student protesters occupied the arena).[1] Each team won and lost a game apiece, Norda Bologna ultimately escaped relegation thanks to a superior points differential (+14 to Livorno's -4 and Biella's -10).[18]

Teams P W L PF PA Relegation
Norda Bologna 2 1 1 112 98
Libertas Livorno 2 1 1 107 111 Relegated to Serie B
Cecchi Biella 2 1 1 116 126
2 April
18:00
Norda Bologna 68, Cecchi Biella 49
Pts: Doug Cook 15 Pts: Rudy Bennett 22
Palazzetto dello Sport Parini, Cantù
Referees: Vietti, Solenghi
3 April
18:30
Cecchi Biella 67, Libertas Livorno 58
Pts: Carlo Caglieris 15 Pts: Daniele Stefanini 16
Palazzetto dello Sport Parini, Cantù
Referees: Cino Burcovich, Yurman

Italian Cup

Ignis Varese won nearly all the competitions they played after lifting the Italian Cup,[a] beating Fides Napoli 83-60 in the final, played in Viareggio on 12 April 1971. The third place game between losing semifinalists saw Simmenthal Milano down Forst Cantù 66-63.[19]

Championship-winning squad

Ignis Varese 1969–70 Serie A champions

Source: Lega Basket

Notes

  1. ^ a b Milano defeated Spartak Leningrad to win the Cup Winners' Cup but Varese conceded their Champions Cup title to CSKA Moscow

References

  1. ^ a b c Tavarozzi, Antonio (2 April 1971). "Bennett salva il Cecchi!" [Bennett rescues Cecchi!]. ArchivoLaStampa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  2. ^ a b Tavarozzi, Antonio (16 October 1970). "Basket, campionato da un miliardo" [Basketball, a billion [lira] championship]. ArchivoLaStampa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  3. ^ a b "All stars,, stranieri" [Foreign,, All stars]. ArchivoLaStampa.it (in Italian). 17 October 1970. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  4. ^ Tavarozzi, Antonio (25 November 1970). "L'Ignis che ha già vinto tutto vuole riconquistare la Coppa" [Ignis, who has already won everything, wants to reconquer the Cup]. ArchivoLaStampa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  5. ^ "Gran basket oggi a Biella" [Big basketball [game] today in Biella]. ArchivoLaStampa.it (in Italian). 25 October 1970. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  6. ^ Martelli, Marco (23 August 2004). "Da Lombardi a Guyton quanto è duro saltare il fosso" [From Lombardi a Guyton it's so hard to jump the fence]. Repubblica.it (in Italian). Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  7. ^ Tavarozzi, Antonio (23 December 1970). "Ignis e Simmenthal con i giovani rinnovano il loro classico duello" [Ignis and Simmenthal, with youngsters, renew their classic duel]. ArchivoLaStampa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  8. ^ Tavarozzi, Antonio (28 December 1970). "L'Ignis vince sempre" [Ignis always wins]. ArchivoLaStampa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  9. ^ Tavarozzi, Antonio (15 March 1971). "Vittoria "thrilling" del Simmenthal. Per lo scudetto spareggio a Roma" [Thrilling Simmenthal win. For the title, a playoff in Rome [is needed]]. ArchivoLaStampa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  10. ^ a b Tavarozzi, Antonio (24 March 1971). "Nel basket è tempo di spareggi" [It's playoff time in basketball]. ArchivoLaStampa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  11. ^ Papetti, Giorgio. "La partita del punteggio record: il racconto di Giorgio Papetti" [The record points-scored game: Giorgio Papetti's tale]. MuseodelBasket-Milano.it (in Italian). Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  12. ^ "Olimpia Milano – Record di Società" [Olimpia Milano – Club Records] (PDF) (in Italian). Lega Basket. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  13. ^ "I cestiti biellesi hanno pagato la loro mancanza di esperienza" [The Biella basketball players paid for their lack of experience]. ArchivoLaStampa.it (in Italian). 27 October 1970. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  14. ^ "Basket verso lo spareggio per scudetto e retrocessione" [Basketball, towards a playoff for the title and relegation]. ArchivoLaStampa.it (in Italian). 22 March 1971. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  15. ^ Cacioppo, Rino (29 March 1971). "Basket con l'appendice (scudetto e retrocessione)" [Basketball's appendix (title and relegation)]. ArchivoLaStampa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  16. ^ "Serie A 1969-70 - classifica marcatori" [1970–71 Serie A – scorers table] (PDF). LegaBasket.it (in Italian). Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  17. ^ Tavarozzi, Antonio (4 April 1971). "Lo scudetto del basket resta a Varese" [The basketball championship stays in Varese]. ArchivoLaStampa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  18. ^ "Salva la Norda, retrocede il Biella" [Norda is saved, Biella is relegated]. ArchivoLaStampa.it (in Italian). 5 April 1971. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  19. ^ "Basket: all'Ignis la Coppa Italia" [The Italian Cup for Ignis]. ArchivoLaStampa.it (in Italian). 13 April 1970. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
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