League leaders BBC East Side Pirates won a one-point game in Steinsel, 77-76, and stayed unbeaten with a third straight victory. Amicale Steesel dropped to 1-2 and slipped to third place.
BEP built the game through long stretches of control. After a 21-17 first quarter, the visitors created the first major gap in the second period. A 10-3 phase pushed them from 21-17 to 31-20, and they were still clearly in front at 42-33 at halftime. Nicolas Nestgen (BEP) and Stefan Jankovic (BEP) were central in that stretch, with Petar Jankovic (BEP) also giving steady scoring.
The game changed after the break. Amicale, coached by Danièle Stoffel-Adam, came back with its best sequence of the afternoon. From 42-53, the home side produced a 15-4 rally to level the score at 57-57, then carried the momentum into the fourth. Noe Olmedo (AMI) scored 22, 12-year-old captain Charel Patz (AMI) added 20, Jona Engel (AMI) had 13 and Phil Linckels (AMI) 12. AMI even moved 66-59 ahead after a 9-2 opening run in the last quarter.
BEP answered like a first-place team. Gilles Poos' group came back behind Stefan Jankovic, Ahmetovic and Nestgen, first tying at 72-72, then moving in front 74-72 and later 77-75. Stefan Jankovic (BEP), who finished with 19, fouled out late, but the Pirates still held on. AMI had the final point for 76-77 through Patz, yet BEP protected the narrow edge.
Top scorers for BEP were Nestgen (23), Stefan Jankovic (19), Petar Jankovic (16) and Dzan Ahmetovic (11). For AMI, Olmedo, Patz, Engel and Linckels carried most of the offense.
(AI generated)