Benfica are scheduled to face Porto in the Hugo dos Santos Men’s Basketball Cup final scheduled for this Sunday in Gondomar, after beating Sporting this Saturday with a score of 73-66.
In the second semi-final of the day, the Reds dominated the entire first half, going into the break with a 14-point lead (46-32), but were defeated in the second by a fierce opponent who only conceded. in the last minutes.
The match started scoreless in the first minute, and it was Terrell Carter who opened the scoring with two free throws, while the red center forward scored only two more points and spent the game under the radar.
Diogo Ventura also equalized from the free throw line and then Benfica managed to rally slightly, which Sporting quickly compensated for by leveling the scores again.
However, from that point on, the national champions took complete control of the game, mainly because they made fewer mistakes, and ended the first period with a 20-12 lead.
In the next period, Sporting increased the defensive pressure, but without much results: Benfica added point after point, and the Lions missed several shots.
Half-time came with Benfica leading 46–32, but Sporting came back in the second half with a clear goal and managed to convert the interim 7–0, thereby halving their opponents’ deficit.
The Lions, with Carlos Cardoso and Andre Cruz setting an example with their fighting spirit, did not allow Benfica to run away on the scoreboard as in the first half, but still entered the final quarter, losing 61-51.
Sporting chased the result in the fourth period, displaying high tempo both defensively and offensively, with Carlos Cardoso continuing to pose a threat and the Reds trembling as if showing some fatigue.
Carlos Cardoso made three free throws and Sporting trailed Benfica by one point (67-66), leaving the outcome of a tight and close game open.
A three from Broussard with just under four minutes left gave fresh impetus to a Benfica team that looked to be in irreversible decline as Sporting failed to respond in kind, made several errors and eventually saw their opponents win with by a score of 73–66. reach the final of the race.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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