BC Mess opened the Phase finale with a 65-59 road win at Mambra Mamer B in a tight game decided in the last minute. The visitors edged the first quarter 13-11, but Mamer responded with a 6-0 burst early in the second (baskets from Ivan Aleksandrovic and Miguel Félix Fernandes) to go up 17-13. Fabio Freymann answered with a pair of threes and kept trading leads with Arda Selim Isiklar, and Mamer reached halftime narrowly ahead, 32-31.
After the break, Mamer surged 8-2 to 40-33 its largest lead (+7) behind Phivos Sortikos and Matei Teodor Stanga. BC Mess steadied, then Nils Muller stitched together a pivotal personal 6-0 run (free throw, two, three) to flip 42-37 into a 43-42 Mess lead, and the guests entered the fourth up 45-44. The final quarter was a series of ties and lead changes: Isiklar's free throws made it 46-45, Tilly and Hentges pushed Mess ahead, and Fihey's three tied it at 59-59. From there, Mess closed on a 6-0 run five points from Freymann to finish it. Coach Fernand Musquar's late timeout preceded the decisive blow, while Mamer's huddle from coach Alan Bedirhanoglu at 56-56 couldn't halt the momentum.
Top performers:
- BC Mess: Nils Muller (MES) scored 24, including seven made free throws and that third-quarter 6-0 spurt; Fabio Freymann (Season PPG: 14.33) added 19 with four triples and the clinching 3+2; Matteo Hentges (Season PPG: 6.25) had 13; Maxime Tilly (Season PPG: 10.50) chipped in 8. Liam Bach drew four fouls but stayed on to hit a late free throw.
- Mambra Mamer B: Arda Selim Isiklar (Season PPG: 11.75) led with 20 and kept Mamer in it late; Phivos Sortikos (Season PPG: 10.75) put up 16; Gabriel Fihey (Season PPG: 5.43) scored 8, including the tying three; Aleksandrovic (Season PPG: 8.33) added 7. Portuguese guard Miguel Félix Fernandes (15) contributed in the second quarter.
In the new classification after Round 1, Mess sits 2nd while Mamer drops to 3rd. Mess, after a difficult stretch earlier in the season, starts the final phase with a valuable win.
(AI generated)