In the duel between 7th-placed Résidence and 8th-placed Kordall, the Steelers won a close game 93-86 and split the season series at 1-1 after the 92-89 loss in the first meeting. It was also KDS's fourth straight win.
Kordall opened better behind Robertas Jonaitis (Season PPG: 23.48, RPG: 9.85, AssPG: 1.41), Erik Timko (Season PPG: 28.64, RPG: 6.43, AssPG: 1.93) and Gianluca Pellegrino Ombroni (Season PPG: 15.50, RPG: 6.54, AssPG: 4.58), taking the first quarter 27-23 and leading 36-29 in the second. Then Résidence changed the rhythm. John Clark Slajchert (Season PPG: 26.67, RPG: 5.33, AssPG: 3.67) scored again and again in a 17-0 run from 36-29 to 46-36, a major swing before halftime.
Brendan Bailey (Season PPG: 22.95, RPG: 9.58, AssPG: 1.38) and Oliver Vujakovic (Season PPG: 14.84, RPG: 6.33, AssPG: 2.71) kept RES in control, and the visitors reached their highest lead at 58-42 in the third quarter. Kordall stayed in contact through Jalen Reynolds (26, 1.98m, USA) and cut the gap to 61-69 after three periods.
The decisive moment came in the fourth. With RES up 73-63, KDS answered with 10 straight points to tie at 73-73. Marvin Saldana's unsportsmanlike foul at 67-73 helped the momentum shift, and coach Antonio Bento dos Reis Pires saw his team finish stronger. From 77-82, Kordall closed on a 16-4 run, with Pellegrino and Max Schmit (Season PPG: 3.38, RPG: 3.12, AssPG: 1.96) hitting key baskets.
KDS posted good shooting numbers: 81% on free throws, 55% on 2-pointers and 41% on 3-pointers. RES were excellent from the line at 91% and good on 2-pointers at 52%, but only 22% from 3-point range. Timko scored 26, Jonaitis 21 and Pellegrino 16 before fouling out. For RES, Slajchert had 28 and MVP Bailey 26 before his fifth foul.
(AI generated)