Amicale Steesel won 79-65 at home in the deciding Game 3 and qualified for the semi-finals, while Basket Esch was eliminated. It was AMI's fourth win in five meetings with LAL this season, but this one stayed tight well into the last quarter.
Basket Esch opened better with a 5-0 start behind Quinten Gregory Dee Nelson, and Jordan Hicks (Season PPG: 15.91, RPG: 5.23, AssPG: 1.71) kept the visitors dangerous from the perimeter all night. AMI settled through Ashton Lee Sherrell (Season PPG: 22.92, RPG: 8.79, AssPG: 1.03) and Malcolm Wesley Richardson (Season PPG: 16.36, RPG: 7.79, AssPG: 5.09) to edge the first quarter 15-14.
In the second period, Sean Bugeja, the 19-year-old guard, gave Steinsel important spacing and AMI moved ahead 32-24. Esch answered with a 7-0 run, capped by Damien Thill's three, before Noah Medeot hit from deep for a 35-31 halftime lead.
The third quarter briefly turned in Esch's favour. Hicks made back-to-back threes for 35-37, and Denilson Ramos Fonseca pushed LAL in front 42-46. AMI answered through Richardson and Ivor Noa Kuresevic to reclaim a narrow 47-46 edge.
The crucial moment came after Hicks tied the game at 57-57 in the fourth. Daniel Alves Brandao de Sousa's side then produced an 18-2 run to 75-59, their biggest lead. Richardson scored repeatedly in that stretch, Sherrell finished inside, and Bugeja added another key three.
AMI shot an excellent 20/21 on free throws (95%) and a good 19/35 on 2-pointers (54%). Richardson finished with 24 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists, including 10/10 free throws. Sherrell added 20 points and 8 rebounds on an excellent 8/11 from two and 4/4 at the line. Bugeja had 11 points on an excellent 3/4 from three.
For Esch, Hicks was outstanding with 33 points, 8 rebounds and 7/14 from three. Nelson added 11 points and 7 rebounds. Captain Clancy Mac Rugg (Season PPG: 19.35, RPG: 9.33, AssPG: 3.00) posted 7 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks, but his foul trouble ended with a late foul-out.
(AI generated)