VIBBALL Echternach picked up its first win of the M-U22 N2 qualification phase, 77-62 at Mersch, leading from the opening tip. Coach Ildiko Vass's team opened 0-8 behind a triple by Michel Ange Mafolo (17, ESP), a three from Tudor-Andrei Achim (18, ROU) and a finish by Noah Marian Rudolf (18, BEL). Black Star answered with free throws from Raphael Solomon (16, PHL) and Trey Sean Boayue (15), plus Sam Tibold (16), but VBE closed the first up 14-19.
The second quarter stayed under VBE's control as Kouami Samuele Dogbonou (18, ITA) worked inside and Rudolf added mid-range scores. Rui Dias dos Santos (16) hit a three to keep Black Star in touch at 17-21, yet baskets by Alexandru-Catalin Vlad (17, 1.92m, ROU) and Rudolf stretched it to 39-30 at the break.
Black Star's best spell came early in the third: Boayue, Steen Beckers (18, 1.80m) and Solomon strung together a 6-0 run to 36-41. The turning point followed when Solomon and Tibold committed multiple quick fouls, sending VBE repeatedly to the line. Frederik Jensen (16, DEU) produced a decisive burst with a field goal and a string of free throws, pushing the gap to 38-55 before Tibold's three closed the period at 41-55.
In the fourth, Tibold hit another three and Boayue kept attacking, but VBE always answered through Rudolf and Mafolo. Robin-Avramescu-Joshua Romani (18, ROU) buried a late three for the night's largest lead (+19 at 58-77). Dogbonou, influential throughout, fouled out in the final quarter but the visitors managed the margin to the horn.
Top performers: VBE Dogbonou 19, Rudolf 18, Jensen 16, Vlad 8, Mafolo 9. BSM Tibold 16 (two triples, six free throws), Boayue 16 (six free throws), Solomon 10, Beckers 8, Dias dos Santos 7. In the table, VBE moves to 4th (1-2) after two early losses, while Black Star remains winless (0-3) in 5th under coach Jerome Hansen.
(AI generated)