Second-placed Arantia Larochette took a tight 76-74 road win over Résidence Walferdange B, with Joao Pedro Osorio Silva's team moving to 4-1 in the phase finale. André Da Cruz's side dropped to 1-4, even if RESB still gained one place and now sit fifth.
The game had strong momentum swings. RESB opened 6-0, but Jim Spaus (Season PPG: 16.00) quickly settled ARA and scored 13 of his team's first 17 points. Arantia closed the first quarter ahead 26-23. Walferdange then produced its best basketball in the second period: Martin Sveda (Season PPG: 9.46) and 14-year-old Lithuanian Matas Sendzikas (Season PPG: 23.13) scored all 23 home points in the quarter, turning a 23-26 deficit into a 46-35 halftime lead. The home team's biggest advantage reached 11 points.
Arantia changed the rhythm after the break. From 48-37, the visitors answered with a 21-5 run to go in front 58-53. Spaus was again central in that stretch, while Charles Wilhelm (Season PPG: 14.67) added important baskets and Philippe Volvert (Season PPG: 20.54) hit from outside and in transition. ARA won the third quarter 23-15 and carried a 61-60 edge into the last period.
The fourth quarter stayed close throughout. RESB fought back to 69-64, but Arantia finished better with a 12-5 closing sequence. Spaus tied it at 71-71 with a three-pointer, Volvert pushed ARA ahead 75-74, and Léo Rock added the final point. Spaus finished with 35 points, matching his season best, with Volvert on 14 and Wilhelm on 12. For RESB, Sendzikas scored 37 and 15-year-old Slovak Sveda added 31; together they produced 68 of the team's 74 points. Kristupas Malaisé also picked up three fouls in the first quarter, an early complication for the home rotation.
(AI generated)