BBC Dikrich opened the M-Nationale 3 qualification round with a controlled 73-61 win over CEDARS in Diekirch. The visitors struck first (0-4), but Dikrich answered with a 7-0 burst to take the lead and closed the first quarter at 22-15. A 6-0 start to the second period pushed the gap to 28-15, and Dikrich reached halftime up 35-24.
The third quarter swung wildly: Yann Canhete Martins (27, BRA) caught fire with a personal 10-point flurry that stretched the margin to 49-32. CEDARS reacted with an 11-0 run sparked by Dany Deaibes (24, LBN), Marc Haykal (36, LBN) and captain Joseph Zeidan (32) to close to 49-43 entering the fourth.
In the last act, François Tegho (36) kept CEDARS in range with outside makes (58-54), but Dikrich found the decisive push. Emerson Medina Vezo (25) and Amar Sijaric (19) steadied the hosts, then Medina strung together 7 consecutive points to make it 71-57 the night's largest lead (14) and seal it for coach Endrit Shala's team.
Top performers: Dikrich Martins 23, Sijaric 14, Joel Leite Delgado (DIE) 11, Medina 11. CEDARS Tegho 21, Deaibes 15, Haykal 8. In the table, Dikrich sit 2nd after this win, CEDARS 5th. Coach Georges El Hajal's side will rue the missed chance after their third-quarter surge.
(AI generated)