By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
After starting this year’s Basketball Champions League Regular Season on a 0-3 record, SL Benfica dreamed of breaking the winless streak at the undefeated team’s arena.
The Portuguese team concluded the second quarter up by the highest margin of the night, with a 13-point deficit at 45-32. However, the black-and-white Lions roared back, and made their fans at home happy with the fourth straight victory in Group G, winning 77-71.
Arturs Strautins continues to be the man of the hour for Derthona in the Basketball Champions League, leading in scoring with 18 points over 5/6 from the field and 6/8 at the line. Christian Vital followed the Latvian sharpshooter with 14 points and 8 rebounds. Luca Severini added 12 points and 6 boards.
Displaying great effort under the rim, Nicolas Carvacho finished with a double-double in the Eagles’ defeat, ending with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Trey Drechsel led the team in scoring with 14.
Both teams weren’t as focused as needed, losing respectively 15 and 19 possessions. SL Benfica won the battle in points in the paint (42 vs 28) and points from the bench (35 vs 13) but shot only 5/19 (26.32%) from deep.
With this victory, Bertram Derthona Tortona made a significant step towards the direct qualification to the Round of 16, avoiding the Play-Ins stage where they were eliminated in 2023-24. SL Benfica is almost eliminated, as they are 0-4 at the bottom of their group.
Post-game press conference:
PHOTO CREDIT: Basketball Champions League