BBC East Side Pirates opened Phase 2 with a controlled 57-49 road win in Steinsel, built on a dominant first quarter (11-21) and steady game management under coach Aziz Ndiaye. Amicale, led by coach Thorsten Freiheit, never found an early rhythm and spent the rest of the night chasing.
The Pirates struck first through Sam Schaeffer (Season PPG: 23.33) and pushed to 5-14 after Sean Harmelin Dostert's three. A late triple by Tomas Schneiders off the bench closed the opening frame at +10. The margin briefly stretched to +12 early in the second before Amicale found a spark: Andreas Nys (BEL, 15) poured in four consecutive field goals for an 8-0 personal run, trimming it to 20-27. BEP answered with Matteo Weydert (Season PPG: 9.0) and a Schaeffer three for 22-32 at the break.
In the third, Mil Boby's triple made it 22-35, but Felix Engel (Season PPG: 23.5) kept Amicale within range with a three and a steady scoring line; it was 36-45 after 30 minutes. The fourth brought real suspense: down 39-49, Amicale strung together a 7-0 burst capped by an Engel three for 46-49, with Engel accounting for five in that stretch. The Pirates replied immediately Schaeffer scored back-to-back baskets for 46-53, the game's pivotal sequence.
Amicale's late push was further hurt when Nys, who had been key in the middle quarters, picked up quick fouls and eventually fouled out. Shortly after, Miguel Lopez Fernandez (ESP, 14) was whistled for an unsportsmanlike; Weydert converted both free throws for 47-55, and Harmelin's late free throws sealed it.
Top performers: Schaeffer paced BEP with 21, helped by Harmelin (10), Weydert (9) and T. Schneiders' timely shots (7). For Amicale, Engel scored 18 and Bobby Kirsch (AMI) added 13. The result halts Amicale's five-game winning run and places the Pirates second in the new Phase 2 standings, with Amicale third.
(AI generated)