By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
ANTWERP — Telenet Giants Antwerp recovered from a slow start thanks to Jae’Sean Tate, took over the lead and didn’t let go until the end for a 72-58 win over Brose Bamberg, claiming the third place.
Tate led the victors with 16 points and most of it came in the first half which ended up being crucial for Antwerp’s win. He also added seven rebounds while Tyler Kalinoski helped with ten points.
Neither side was highly effective offensively but Bamberg struggled more. Louis Olinde scored 12 and Arnoldas Kulboka ten points.
Bamberg opened the game better with a 15-6 run but Antwerp was slowly decreasing the gap and took over the lead early in the second quarter (22-18) led by Tate’s 11 points. The sides stayed balanced for a while but the hosts dominated the last four minutes of the first half allowing the German squad only two points while banking 12 themselves for a 37-26 advantage at halftime.
Although Brose scored the first five points of the second half, that was the closest they came to Antwerp which answered immediately to reclaim the double-digit lead (45-32). The Belgian squad kept the distance and after Thomas Akyazili’s two shots from deep, Antwerp went ahead 67-47 leaving no doubt about the winner.