SIENA, Italy - University of New Orleans all-time leading scorer Bo McCalebb scored nine points to help his Italian-based squad to a league title on Sunday.
Named 'Most Valuable Player' of the championship series, McCalebb's effort on both sides of the ball helped propel Montepaschi Siena to a 63-61 win over Bennet Cantu and a 4-1 series victory in the Italian League Championship (also known as the Lega Basket Serie A).
The title is the fifth in a row for the squad – considered one of the powers in Europe - since 2004.
The title was the second league title in as many years for McCalebb, who sat out three months earlier this season with a fractured foot. Last year, the former O. Perry Walker standout led Partizan Belgrade to the 2010 Serbian National Championship.
A consistent presence on the offensive end throughout the series, McCalebb scored in double-figures in the opening two games as Montepaschi built a 2-0 lead in the series on its home-court. Following a win by Bennet Cantu in the third game, the former Privateer shot a blistering 9 of 11 from the field on way to 21 points and a 3-1 lead for his professional squad.
In winning the league title, McCalebb joins 2007-08 Privateer teammate Kyndall Dykes in hoisting a trophy this summer. Earlier this month, Dykes was named Romanian League MVP on way to helping U Mobitelco Cluj to league championship.
With his professional commitments over for the time being, McCalebb will now turn his attention to the FIBA European Championships.
The all-time leading scorer in UNO and Sun Belt history with 2,679 points, McCalebb gained dual citizenship last summer and directed Macedonia to a qualification spot in the FIBA Europe event.
The championships will run from Aug. 31 through Sept. 18 in Lithuania and serves as a qualifying event for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
