Arantia Larochette B (ARAB) overpowered Etzella Ettelbruck B (ETZB) 92-73 in the Coupe FLBB 1/8 finales, setting the tone with a dominant first quarter (30-13) and never letting go. After ETZB opened the scoring, ARAB answered with a 10-0 blast from 2-2 to 2-12, fuelled by Donovan Delhommais (24, 1.86m) inside and perimeter daggers from the wings. The visitors led 30-13 after 10 minutes.
ETZB reacted in the second quarter behind a torrent from Miguel Angelo Domingos Sanches (20, 1.80m, PRT), who drilled five triples in the period. ETZB produced an 11-2 stretch from 25-46 to 36-48, aided by a three from Ayrton Babinyanga Bonyeme (19, BEL). ARAB's coach used two timeouts to stem the tide, and Arantia reached halftime still in control (49-36).
The third quarter decided it. ARAB ripped a 14-2 run to move from 39-49 to 41-63, with Delhommais repeatedly finishing at the rim and Marc Backendorf (37) adding timely baskets. The lead peaked at +23 (50-73). Early in the fourth, Luc Kirpach (34) committed an unsportsmanlike foul, but the cushion held as ETZB traded scores the rest of the way.
Individually, Delhommais led ARAB with 25 points, a steady presence all night. Pedro Nunes Jordao (37, 1.82m, PRT) added 17, including late free throws, while Backendorf scored 14. Captain Rui Nunes Jordao (39, 1.76m, PRT) chipped in 10; Sam Brosius (19) had 9; Philippe Oly (30) also reached 10 despite foul trouble.
For ETZB, Domingos Sanches exploded for 31 points, including seven three-pointers, carrying the hosts through their best stretches. Sam Schaaf (17, 1.92m) posted 14, and Lenny Lopes Morais (16) hit four threes for 12. ETZB's youthful core showed resilience, but ARAB's early punch and third-quarter surge decided the tie.
(AI generated)