Sixth-ranked Arantia Larochette C edged ninth-ranked Résidence Walferdange B 69-68 in Walferdange, climbing one place and stopping a three-game losing streak. RESB, meanwhile, dropped a fourth game in a row. ARAC also completed the season sweep after its earlier 83-73 win in the first meeting.
RESB started better. Captain Liviu-Constantin Rusu and Gonzalez Vargas gave the home side quick outside scoring, and Walferdange moved in front 14-8 before keeping a 21-15 lead after the first quarter. The home team's best margin was six points.
Coach Rui Nunes Jordao saw ARAC settle in during the second period. Alvis Kasteckas (Season PPG: 21.35) and Lin Xu (Season PPG: 5.63) drove the comeback, helping the visitors turn 23-17 into a 33-32 halftime advantage with a strong inside stretch and steady free-throw production.
The game changed again just after the break. From 36-33 for RESB, ARAC produced 8 unanswered points through Pedro Nunes Jordao, Bingana Tamba and Lin for 41-36. Later in the quarter, Rui Nunes Jordao scored 6 points in a short span, including back-to-back threes, and ARAC reached 52-45.
RESB stayed close behind the 47-year-old Spaniard Gonzalez Vargas, who finished with 23 points, while Rusu added 13 and Filip Dukic 12. In the fourth quarter, Pedro Nunes Jordao hit two straight threes to make it 60-54, but RESB answered with a 10-2 run, capped by Purice for a 65-64 lead.
The last possessions stayed on a knife-edge. ARAC responded immediately, and Rui Nunes Jordao, despite foul trouble, scored the decisive free throw for the 69-68 edge.
ARAC had balanced scoring: Kasteckas 17, Lin 16, Rui Nunes Jordao 13, Pedro Nunes Jordao 13 and Tamba 10.
(AI generated)