First-placed Arantia Larochette B stayed in control of the M-Nationale 3: Relégation table with a 107-87 road win over 7th-placed Luxembourg Phoenix. It was Arantia's eighth consecutive win, while Phoenix suffered a fifth straight defeat. Arantia also completed a 3-0 season sweep in this matchup.
Luxembourg Phoenix started well and went up 5-0, then 10-6, with Simone Buran, the 33-year-old Italian, carrying the early scoring. The visitors reacted quickly: Dylan Rocha Pires and Donovan Delhommais changed the rhythm, and Arantia finished the first quarter with a strong 12-3 push to lead 29-20.
CED had its best phase in the second quarter. François Tegho helped cut the gap to 29-37 and later to 43-53, but Arantia always had an answer. Delhommais kept the offense flowing, and the game turned further when Dany Deaibes was disqualified after two technical fouls late in the half. Rocha Pires converted the resulting free throws and Arantia reached halftime ahead 58-43.
The third quarter ended level at 22-22. Phoenix reduced the margin to 50-62, but never got it below double digits. Early in the fourth, Hichem El Basri's team made one more push to 72-82. Coach Pedro Nunes Jordao's side answered immediately through Jordao, Rocha Pires and Delhommais, and the lead climbed to 23 late on.
Delhommais (Season PPG: 26.07) led all scorers with 40. Rocha Pires (Season PPG: 15.55) added 25, Jordao scored 17 and Vincent Diderrich 13. For CED, Buran matched his season high with 31, while Tegho (Season PPG: 19.58) also reached his season best with 30. Together, they produced 61 of Phoenix's 87 points.
(AI generated)