Arcus (ACU) advanced in the Bascol Coupe Eliminatoires with a 56-43 home win over BNP Parisbas (BNP) in Capellen, built on a dominant start and a controlled finish.
ACU opened 10-0, with Ioannis Pitropakis (ACU) hitting back-to-back buckets and captain-coach Luc Kirsch (ACU) setting the tone inside. The hosts led 17-7 after 10 minutes and pushed the margin to a game-high +16 at 31-15 in the second quarter, before BNP answered with a 6-0 stretch keyed by Mendim Balaj (BNP). Halftime: 33-19.
BNP showed life after the break. Mohamed Cheikhrouhou (BNP) and Jerome Vergendo (BNP) trimmed it to 33-23, and later Maxime Detourbe (BNP) scored as the visitors took the third 16-13 to sit 46-35 down. Early in the fourth, Samuel Mathurin Tchantio Kombiwo (BNP) hit a 3, Patrick Schnurr (BNP) added another from deep, and Tchantio scored again to bring it to 50-43. ACU responded decisively: Michail Kouris (ACU) sank two free throws, Kirsch finished inside, and Georgios Vasilas (ACU) sealed a 6-0 closing run.
All 56 ACU points came from the starting five. Kouris led all scorers with 17 points, including 5 made free throws and two triples, and was steady late at the line. Kirsch added 14 (seven 2-pointers) while directing the team from the bench and the floor, Pitropakis had 11 (scoring 4 quick points in the opening run), Vasilas 8, and Tony Martins Ferreira (ACU) 6.
For BNP, Cheikhrouhou paced them with 12, and Tchantio (BNP) added 11, including 5 in the fourth. Balaj contributed 7 and sparked BNP's second-quarter push. Schnurr's fourth-quarter 3 briefly lifted hopes, but two quick fouls by Mohamed Zarraa (BNP) in the final period stalled momentum as ACU, guided by coach Luc Kirsch, managed the clock and possessions to the horn. BNPs bench (Tchantio, Schnurr, Detourbe) supplied 16 of their 43 points.
(AI generated)
Arcus 
BNP Parisbas 
