Basket Esch edged Sparta Bertrange 59-53 in the Phase finale round-robin at esch/ho3, reversing October's 51-80 loss to the same opponent. The hosts led 17-12 after the first and, despite a second-quarter wobble including a C1 technical to coach Vincent Gevrey that preceded Sparta tying it 22-22 Esch took a 26-22 cushion into halftime.
The third quarter proved decisive. Esch strung together multiple scoring bursts through Alexandre Kremer (Season PPG: 12.00), Edmilson Vieira Miguel (Season PPG: 9.57), Paul Blettery (Season PPG: 13.71) and Euricky Semedo da Veiga (14, PRT) to win the period 19-9 and build a 45-31 lead. Kremer then authored four consecutive Esch scoring plays spanning Q3-Q4 two late baskets, then a free throw and a layup to reach the night's largest margin at 48-31.
Sparta answered with a 12-0 run: Maximilaan Flechtner (Season PPG: 16.92) hit from deep and inside, and captain Thandizo Jon Zulu (Season PPG: 19.21) poured in three straight free throws before adding a layup to trim it to 48-43. Later, Aaron Torresani (Season PPG: 8.91) buried a three for 54-50 and William Scarsbrook (Season PPG: 4.69) kept the pressure on, but Esch held firm at the line through Kremer and Maël Gevrey to close it out. In the tense finish, Faisal Abdirizak Mohamed (Season PPG: 7.36) fouled out after two quick whistles, while Zulu also fouled out late, a key blow for Sparta's offense.
Top performers
- Basket Esch: Kremer 21; Miguel 13; Abdirizak Mohamed 9; Blettery 7; Semedo da Veiga 6.
- Sparta Bertrange: Zulu 21; Flechtner 15 (three triples); Torresani 12; Scarsbrook 4.
Esch are on a three-game winning streak and climb to 2nd in the standings (+2, 3-1). Sparta drop to 4th (-1, 2-2).
(AI generated)