Montepaschi Siena is the Italian Cup champion! Montepaschi lifted its third consecutive Italian Cup trophy by downing Benner Cantu 79-72 in the title game in Turin on Sunday. Ksistof Lavrinovic led the winners with 21 points. Nikos Zisis added 16 while Marco Carrareto and Rimantas Kaukenas each had 11 for Montepaschi. Maarten Leunen had 16 points for Cantu, Mike Green added 15 and Nicolas Mazzarino 11. Vladimir Micov and Denis Marconato shined early to give Cantu a 6-10 lead. It didn't last long, however, as Zisis and Lavrinovic fueled a 14-2 run that Tomas Ress capped with a free throw to make Montepaschi get a 20-12 margin after 10 minutes. Cantu improved at both ends early in the second quarter and found a go-to guy in Jonathan Tabu, who followed a layup with a triple for a 22-19 deficit. Mazzarino struck twice from downtown and back-to-back baskets by Marconato and Leunen put their team back ahead, 26-29. A three-pointer by Leunen and free throws by Micov and Manu Markoishvili gave Cantu a 34-36 edge at halftime. Lavrinovic took over after the break but a dunk by Leunen still gave Cantu a 43-44 lead. A 9-0 run that David Moss capped with a layup put Montepaschi ahead for good, 52-44. Leunen and Green gave Cantu some hope, 58-55, at the end of the third quarter. Back-to-back triples by Zisis and Lavrinovic seemed to seal the outcome, 68-57, but Cantu still managed to get within 68-65 with 3 minutes left. A layup by Lavrinovic and a bomb from downtown by Zisis allowed Montepaschi to seal the outcome and celebrate yet another Italian Cup title.