BBC Dikrich controlled Telstar Hesperange 82-70 in the M-Nationale 3 qualifying round, built on a dominant middle stretch and steady closing. Telstar opened sharper behind Max Klepper (33), who drove a 6-0 burst from 4-4 to 4-10, and led 16-19 after the first. Coach Rui Brito Roberto's side flipped the game with a 35-13 second quarter, including a 27-9 run from 21-21 to 48-30. William Rodrigues Fortes (Season PPG: 3.89) splashed three triples in that period, while Edson Monteiro Neves (Season PPG: 14.73; 26, Portugal) and Amar Sijaric (Season PPG: 13.92) piled on.
Dikrich kept the pressure in the third (63-42) and reached a highest lead of 23 points at 70-47 early in the fourth. Telstar then surged: Niccolo Spagnoletti (24, Italy; Season PPG: 7.71) strung together a two and a three, and with Klepper added, the visitors posted a 9-0 run to 73-58. Spagnoletti's unsportsmanlike foul in that spell, followed by further infractions, led to his foul-out and stalled momentum. Dikrich steadied through free throws and late points from Jordan Roberto Rocha (DIE).
Top performers Dikrich: Monteiro Neves (17), Sijaric (16), Ewan Da Silva Jose (Season PPG: 16.40; 16) and Rodrigues Fortes (9). Joel Leite Delgado (DIE) added key early baskets. Telstar: Klepper (Season PPG: 15.18) led all scorers with 28, Spagnoletti had 17 before fouling out, and Lorenzo Ferrari (Season PPG: 11.70) chipped in 10.
Coach Christophe Thil's timeouts in Q2 couldn't stem Dikrich's wave, and despite Telstar's late push, the gap proved too large. Form-wise, Dikrich stopped a three-game skid, while Telstar's two-game streak ended.
(AI generated)