Arantia Larochette topped Racing Luxembourg 95-83 in the Phase finale round-robin, building the win on a blistering start and steady answers to every Racing push. Karolis Abramavicius' team opened 10-3 behind two early triples from Mathis Dieterlen (36 pts, 7 threes, 7 FTs) and surged to 32-12 late in the first quarter, their largest lead (+20). Nicolae Predescu's Racing reacted with a 27-15 second period Yair Portal Levav (13) and Louis Cocard (17, Season PPG: 13.38) driving the comeback to reach halftime at 47-41.
The third quarter belonged again to Arantia's leaders. Dieterlen (17 years, 1.83m, FRA; Season PPG: 18.54) knocked down three consecutive free throws, and after a technical foul on Stefan Stoykov (BGR, 17; 19 pts, Season PPG: 22.33) Lee Brosius (29, Season PPG: 28.08) buried a three for 69-57 after 30 minutes. In the fourth, Arantia briefly stretched it to 72-57 before Racing's late charge Stoykov splashed two triples and Cocard added points at the line to trim it to 85-78 with a minute to play. Tom Faber (11) answered with a key three and Arantia closed it out at the stripe.
Arantia's perimeter was decisive (10 made threes to Racing's 7), with Brosius adding 8 two-point field goals and calm free-throw work (7 FTs). Lars Bosdijk (15, Season PPG: 11.38) gave reliable inside finishing. For Racing, Sarunas Sulcas (16, Season PPG: 14.90) was consistent from mid-range, while Oskar Berger (10) and Portal Levav supported the scoring.
No player fouled out, but Racing's main scorers (Stoykov, Sulcas, Cocard) all finished on four fouls, complicating the comeback. In form terms, Arantia snapped a two-game skid, while Racing's three-game winning run ended. In the standings, Racing remains second (2-1) and Arantia sits sixth (1-2).
(AI generated)