Résidence Walferdange won a close Game 1 in Bertrange, 87-83, and moved 1-0 up in this best-of-3 quarter-final after Sparta had won both qualification meetings this season.
Coach Rainer Kloss' side took control early. After 12-12, RES closed the first quarter with a 15-6 push, led 27-18, and then opened the second period by stretching the margin to 35-25. The gap later reached 47-30, their highest lead of the night at 17 points. John Clark Slajchert (Season PPG: 27.43, RPG: 5.44, AssPG: 3.82), the 25-year-old 1.82m USA guard, was on a real roll with 36 points, including an excellent 5/9 from 3-point range and good 5/6 free throws. Brendan T. Bailey (Season PPG: 22.78, RPG: 9.15, AssPG: 1.44) added 24 points with an outstanding 9/10 on 2-pointers, while Oliver Vujakovic (Season PPG: 14.95, RPG: 6.03, AssPG: 2.39) scored 15.
Karl Abou Khalil's team kept chasing. Max Logelin (Season PPG: 16.68, RPG: 5.85, AssPG: 3.32) delivered 22 points, and game MVP Jarvis Terrill Williams (Season PPG: 22.95, RPG: 7.04, AssPG: 2.23), a 36-year-old 1.98m USA wing, finished with 33 points and an excellent 6/7 from deep. Victor Iwuakor added 13 points and 6 rebounds.
RES still led 72-57 after three quarters and 85-70 in the fourth, but Sparta answered with 13 straight points. Germeaux started the burst with a three, then Williams scored 10 in a row to cut it to 83-85. Walferdange stayed calm, with Bailey making the last 2 free throws. Team-wise, RES were excellent at the line (10/11, 91%) and good on 2-pointers (25/41, 61%), while Sparta's 20 turnovers were costly. Captain Yannick Verbeelen fouled out late.
(AI generated)