BBC Dikrich controlled Nitia Bettembourg 82-69 in Diekirch, completing a season sweep after the 72-61 win in the first meeting. Endrit Shala's group rose to 5-5 and climbed to second in the standings, while Nitia (2-8) remain fifth with their slide extended to eight straight defeats.
The game turned in the first quarter when Amar Sijaric (Season PPG: 21.9) caught fire. Trailing 2-5, he poured in 10 consecutive points to flip it to 12-7, and Dikrich closed the period 28-19. The hosts tightened their grip before halftime with steady inside production from David Owen Dakeu Ngaha and bench boosts by Luigi Busto and Riké Lizardo Alves, taking a 43-29 lead.
After the break, Justin Tram scored on back-to-back possessions and Kevin John Gillen added five straight to reach 52-31. The margin peaked at +23 (57-34 and 78-55). Sijaric kept stretching the gap with six made threes and a stream of twos, finishing with 38 points. Late on, Nitia found life: a 14-2 run, sparked by Owen Chen (1.76m; Season PPG: 18.8) and Maik Zhan (Season PPG: 9.43), cut it to 80-69 before Dikrich closed.
Top performers
- BBC Dikrich: Amar Sijaric (38), D. O. Dakeu Ngaha (13), Gillen (5) and Tram (6; Season PPG: 7.91) provided key third-quarter punches. Andrey Da Silva (16, PRT) added two timely fourth-quarter baskets.
- Nitia Bettembourg: Wesley Almeida (16; Season PPG: 15.3) powered inside, Chen added 16 including late free throws and mid-range makes, Zhan had 10, and Gabriele José Minoia de Almeida (17) chipped in 8.
Mike Ricardo Mendes Araujo's side won the fourth 24-20 and produced a 6-0 burst early in the period, but Dikrich's earlier control and Sijaric's long scoring stretches decided the contest. Highest lead: 23 for Dikrich.
(AI generated)