North Fox edged Entente RES AMI B 65-60 in Steinsel to open the Championship Round (Phase 2) with a valuable away win and move up to 2nd place in the standings, ERAB sitting 3rd.
Game evolution
ERAB set the tone early (17-12 after Q1) behind Aurel Nicula's first four points and steady work from Kristupas Zilionis. They maintained control to halftime (32-28). The turning point arrived after the break: following a timeout by Coach Charel Linden, FOX unleashed a 12-0 run to close the third quarter, flipping 45-37 down into a 45-49 lead. Raphael Johan Nkoa (16, 1.81m, CMR) and Nils Rob (16, 1.90m) combined for all 12 in that burst.
ERAB fought back in the fourth, tying at 49-49 and briefly going up 51-49. Nicula buried a three for 54-51, but FOX answered through Yannick Johanns and a key triple from Patrick Thoma Papp for 56-59. Nkoa added two more for 56-61. ERAB's Illia Malkin trimmed it to 60-61 from the line, yet Nkoa closed it out with the final four points two late free throws sealing the win. FOX survived despite Rob fouling out in the last period and captain Fynn Schlechter in foul trouble.
Top performers
For FOX: Nkoa poured in 19 and delivered the clutch finish; Thoma Papp (Season PPG: 5.2) added 15 including the go-ahead three; Rob struck for 14 with multiple threes before fouling out; Johanns (Season PPG: 9.2) had 11 and a momentum-starting triple to open the second half.
For ERAB: Malkin (Season PPG: 6.9), the captain, led with 19; Nicula (Season PPG: 9.9) scored 15 and hit a crucial fourth-quarter three; Zilionis (Season PPG: 4.83) had 13; Janis Thein (Season PPG: 3.83) added 8.
ERAB's largest lead was eight (45-37), but FOX's decisive 12-0 sequence and Nkoa's late streak made the difference. Coach Filip Dukic's late timeouts couldn't break FOX's composure down the stretch.
(AI generated)