Benetton Treviso's Coppa Italia MVP Jorge Garbajosa of Spain and Italian international Massimo Bulleri propelled the Lega A giants to a 78-70 win over Scavolini Pesaro on Sunday.

Benetton's 23rd victory of the campaign keeps them top of the standings alongside Montepaschi Siena, who were big winners at Oregon Cantu.

In a rematch of the Coppa final, Garbjosa scored 18 points and grabbed five rebounds while coach Ettore Messina, without two of his biggest stars in injured duo Maurice Evans and Tyus Edney, also got a huge game defensively from Massimo Bulleri.

Bulleri held Alphonso Ford to just 12 points, well below his season average of 24.1.

"I am absolutely ecstatic," said Messina. "Bulleri has done very well in marking Ford, all of my players have had a great game."

Bulleri's contributions were significant because not long ago he was struggling with rumours flying that he might be on his way out of the club by season's end.

One of the top players in the league last year, Bulleri was thrown out of his stride by an injury and had found it difficult to work his way back into the lineup.

Guillerme Giovanonni added 17 points in the win for Benetton.

Equally satisfied was Montepaschi Siena coach Carlo Recalcati.

American guard Marvis Bootsy Thornton scored 23 points and had 10 rebounds to tear apart his former team.

Thornton joined Men Sana this summer after three seasons at Cantu, and Recalcati admitted: "I am extremely happy for Thornton because he wanted to play a good game against a team he still has very much in his heart.

"He has given the performance that I expected but one that not many players can do in that situation."

Lottomatica Roma's Carlton Myers didn't have it as good against his old team as Fortitudo Bologna beat the Romans 74-66.

Fortitudo are third in the table while Roma are battling to hold on to eighth - the spot that qualifies for the play-offs.

Roma, who rely heavily on their outside shooting, were just seven of 29 from three-point range in the game.

"The truth is that we don't seem to have alternatives to the long-range shots, if we score behind the arc we win but if we don't it's impossible to succeed," said captain Myers, who scored just seven points and misfired on his six attempts from behind three-point range.

In other games, Pompea Napoli moved into joint fourth place with Scavolini thanks to an 82-76 home win against Mabo Livorno.

Snaidero Udine piled more agony on last placed Coop Nordest Trieste, 83-64.

With three games left to play and six points away from the bottom two, Air Avellino kept their hopes of remaining alive in Lega A with a 91-78 victory at second bottom Sicilia Messina.

Seventh placed Metis Varese ended Breil Milano's hopes of reaching the play-offs, winning 75-72.

Lauretana Biella needed overtime to overcome a determined Teramo Basket, 99-94.

Tris Reggio Calabria could have put even more pressure on Roma had they won their game against Euro Roseto but they lost 88-76 and remain two games behind.