Telenet Giants Antwerp won the top match in Elite Gold against ZZ Leiden in the Lotto Arena. The Sinjoren did it in the second half and achieved a third consecutive victory. They therefore remain Belgian number 2 in the BNXT League.
Telenet Giants Antwerp had the best start in the top match of Elite Gold of the BNXT League (12-7), but could not maintain this bonus against a sophisticated and, above all, meticulous finishing ZZ Leiden. Luuk van Bree and Tajion Jones scored for ZZ Leiden, forcing the tie (15-14) and taking the momentum in the first quarter: 23-24.
The Giants also had a hard time early in the second period and were always dependent on chasing. Defensively, the Sinjoren were also a step too slow. Dutch three-pointers were painful: 25-30 and 29-37. Jean-Marc Mwema supported Justice Sueing with three-pointers and Telenet Giants Antwerp narrowed the gap to 40-43. Antwerp’s ball losses and weak defense meant that ZZ Leiden went halfway to the dressing room with a 43-48 bonus.
Telenet Giants Antwerp came out of the dressing room sharper at the beginning of the second half. This time there was focus in defense and with Rasir Bolton finishing. From a 46-50 deficit it went to a 52-53 and 56-53 Antwerp lead. The Giants were on fire, Nikola Jovanovic scored in the paint and after a steal and assist from Jo Van Buggenhout and a dunk from the same Jovanovic, a 67-59 Antwerp lead flickered on the scoreboard. The Antwerp team only conceded 16 points in the third quarter and started the final quarter with a 70-64.
The match became physical and even bitter at times. ZZ Leiden also only had four players who had scored at the beginning of the fourth quarter. That hurt offensively and with, among other things, a fourth bomb from Jean-Marc Mwema, it quickly went to a 77-69 Antwerp bonus after 73-69. ZZ Leiden tried to push on, but after a fifth error by Alex Gross, the Dutch really lost their game. With a brilliant second half, Telenet Giants Antwerp laid the foundation for the win. The Giants gave up only 25 points in the second half.
Telenet Giants Antwerp-ZZ Leiden 85-73
Quartz: 23-24, 20-24, 27-16,
Telenet Giants Antwerp: Van Buggenhout 9, Van Cleemput 0, Sueing 12, Willems 0, Schoepen 4, Mwema 12 Jovanovic 16, Kreuser 7, Bolton 25
ZZ Leiden: Bouwknecht 11, Jones 15, Ververs 0, Van Bree 19, Kruithof 0, Gardner 7, Gross 21
#Telenet #Giants #Antwerp #tops #Leiden #Antwerp
– 2024-04-07 18:14:37
