Telstar Hesperange edged Luxembourg Phoenix 78-72 in Frisange, completing a 2-0 head-to-head this season. Coach Pit Meintz's side seized control early with a 9-0 start and a 25-14 first quarter. Phoenix, guided by coach Georges El Hajal, roared back in the second: François Tegho (Season PPG: 20.86) and Simone Buran (Season PPG: 18.80) powered an 11-0 surge to 27-30 and the hosts trimmed it to 39-43 at halftime.
The game's hinge came after the break. Christian Italia drilled a three and Max Klepper (Season PPG: 13.89) strung together six straight points to push Telstar to 43-55, and the lead peaked at +17 (46-63). Phoenix answered again Buran lit up the third and early fourth, and Tegho kept attacking the stripe but Jamie Kappler (Season PPG: 10.60) hit a timely triple for 62-71 and Telstar managed the cushion to the finish. In the closing minutes Phoenix got within two possessions, yet Klepper and Italia's free throws sealed it. Telstar were the winners in a close game.
Key incidents shaped the flow: Ribal Tahtouh (32, LBN) was disqualified in the third quarter after an unsportsmanlike and a technical, and Tegho later fouled out despite a team-high 25 points. Joseph Zeidan (Season PPG: 7.29) added 17 for Phoenix; Buran finished with 22.
For Telstar, the home contingent delivered: Klepper 16, Kappler 11, Tom Roden (Season PPG: 7.00) 9, and Loïc Wohl 8. Their other scorers led the line: Lorenzo Ferrari (Season PPG: 11.50) poured in 24, Italia 6, Arturo Gosalbez 4.
In the table, Telstar climb to 4th (+2) at 4-6, while Phoenix sit 7th at 1-9, their slide extended to nine straight defeats.
(AI generated)