Benfica Sporting Basketball Liga 5 Day

[EM ATUALIZAÇÃO: 63-74, resultado final]

Derby night at the Fidelidade Pavilion! Benfica and Sporting discussed the game of the 5th round of the regular phase of the Betclic League… The eagles were superior in the 1st half, the lions reacted in the 2nd half and ended up winning the game: 63-74.

First official basketball derby of the 2021/22 season to put the eternal rivals, separated, at the outset, by a point. Sporting, leader, with 24 points, Benfica, 3rd overall, with 23, in the lead-up to the delayed match of the 5th round of the regular phase of the Betclic League.

Initial moments marked by turnovers, with Frank Gaines to unlock the bookmark with the first triple of the game and giving the eagles an advantage. In answer, sinking of the greens and whites… perspective of great show in light this Wednesday night! And so it was! Benfica more organized, planning and building game; on the other side a more explosive Sporting, betting on transition. After all, two different models, but both with great ambition. Halfway through the 1st quarter, 14-8, like outdoor game of the eagles and the pressing defense highlighted. More Benfica, fast, dynamic and also surprising the lions on the counterattack. After the first ten minutes, 24-14, ten points difference.

Sporting started better in the 2nd quarter, but Jose Silva, with an accurate triple, gave the Meeting, with Diogo Gameiro to follow his example and keep distances on the marker. A lot of fights in the tables, aggressiveness qb, emotion all over the place… it’s just that derby is always derby! Period with some unforced errors (36-28) and Norberto Alves stopped the game. Balance, lots of ball losses, approaching the lions and, at half-time, only four points separated the formations: 39-35… and everything was wide open!

SUMMARY OF PART 1

Entry with everything from Sporting in the resumption of the challenge, to jump in front of the marker (39-42). More aggressive in defense, more effective in shooting, the greens and whites began to pose real difficulties to the reds. Looking for solutions, Benfica then ran after the loss, but without ever allowing great distances to the men of Luís Magalhães and to keep up the fight despite the drop in the percentage of effectiveness at launch, as a result of a period of some lack of inspiration (54-58, in the 3rd quarter).

Last ten minutes full of emotionality! All in the open, with teams giving their all on the court, often more with the heart than with the head. In such a balanced derby, it was, once again, the details that made the difference. Fight until the curtain falls, uncertainty until the end, with Sporting, more pragmatic and assertive, managing to hold on to the advantage brought from the previous quarter and win the match (63-74). Benfica was superior in the first half, Sporting was better in the second!

Benfica returns to the court in Saturday, the 8th of January, at 15:00, in the Fidelidade Pavilion. The reception to CAB Madeira is relative to 16th day of the regular phase of League Betclic.