In the phase finale, third-placed Amicale Steesel B produced a much more one-sided second meeting against fourth-placed Arantia Larochette B than the 50-47 game between these teams earlier in the season. Oliver Barth's side won 105-40 after taking control very early.
ARAB matched the opening minutes at 2-2, but Raphael Boreiko (Season PPG: 14.88) immediately changed the rhythm with 6 points in a row for AMIB. From 8-4, Steesel closed the first quarter on a 20-2 surge to lead 28-6. That first break already shaped the game.
The home team kept the same pressure in the second quarter. Boreiko, Jona Engel (Season PPG: 7.72) and Noe Olmedo (Season PPG: 7.71) pushed the margin beyond 20, then beyond 30, and AMIB reached halftime with a commanding 54-14 advantage.
ARAB had its best spell just after the break. Vasco Vitorino dos Santos, Mingxuan Li (ARAB) and Ruben Silva (Season PPG: 8.42) helped cut the start of the third quarter to 56-20. AMIB answered quickly, taking 19 of the next 23 points. Atanas Atapov (Season PPG: 13.38), an 11-year-old Bulgarian, was central in that response and finished with 19 points.
Boreiko was the leading figure with 32 points, all from 2-point baskets. AMIB also got strong support from Engel (16), William Santos Ferreira (Season PPG: 4.58) with 14, and Olmedo with 12, including 6 straight late points. For ARAB, 11-year-old Mingxuan Li from China kept working throughout and led his team with 17 points, while Samuel Schmit (Season PPG: 10.33) added 8.
A notable detail from the scoresheet: neither team made a 3-pointer. AMIB scored through 52 made 2-pointers and 1 free throw, and its highest lead reached 67 points. The win also stops Steesel's recent two-game losing spell.
(AI generated)