By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Becoming the first team to represent Portugal in the Basketball Champions League Regular Season was just the start, Benfica defeated VEF Riga, 89-76, on the road Tuesday.
Making his way to the Portugal champions during the summer and after helping survive the BCL Qualifiers, former NBA player Toney Douglas was the top performer at Arena Riga. The experienced guard went for 17 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and two steals in 30 minutes.
Coming off 22.3 points per game in the Lisbon Qualifying Group, Cape Verdean Ivan Almeida fired 14 of his 16 points in the second half pushing Benfica into a safe lead. Aaron Broussard had 15 points, Betinho tallied 12 points, and Maik Zirbes added ten points in the Group F Round 1 contest.
For the losing side, Nysier Brooks was up to 18 points at the break but was held to two points in the second half. Limiting the Philadelphia-born center was key for the team coached by Norberto Alves to take charge deeper in the game. The fast pace played in the favor of the visitors.
Launching the fourth straight campaign in the Champions League, the team guided by Janis Gailitis led for nearly 20 minutes but ended up on the wrong end of the chase. Besides Brooks, Kristers Zoriks produced a solid effort in a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double. Artis Ate scored 14 points as well.
After going up to 1-0 at the domestic level, Benfica went to 1-0 in the four-team group also including Baxi Manresa and Limoges CSP. The team based in Riga, reigning champion of Latvia and of the Latvian-Estonian League, was forced down to 0-1.
Postgame press conference:
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League