Basket Esch won the M-Coupe de l'Avenir final 75-70 against Sparta Bertrange after a strong second-half turnaround in a close game.
Sparta controlled the opening half. Thandizo Jon Zulu (Season PPG: 23.80) was the main force early, scoring 16 points in the first quarter as SPA moved from 4-0 down to a 22-19 lead. In the second period, Christian Michael Wulff's team stretched the gap to 40-26, the biggest lead of the game, with Zulu well supported by Maximilaan Flechtner (Season PPG: 12.20) and Petar Kulisic (Season PPG: 24.43). Basket Esch trailed 30-40 at halftime.
The momentum changed after the break. Coach Vincent Gevrey's side gradually raised the pressure, and Alexandre Kremer (15) drove the comeback. LAL erased a 10-point deficit at 40-50 with a 13-3 run to reach 53-53, before Sparta still held a narrow 59-56 advantage after three quarters.
The decisive stretch came in the fourth. Sparta went back to 61-56, but Dayson Wayne Silva Goncalves (15) answered with six consecutive points to push Esch in front 62-61. After Kulisic briefly restored Sparta's edge, Esch produced a 7-0 run from 64-65 to 71-65 through Kremer and Euricky Semedo da Veiga. Sparta stayed in contact through Flechtner and Aaron Torresani, but never got back level.
Kremer finished with 32 points for Basket Esch, with Silva Goncalves adding 11, Maël Gevrey 10 and Paul Blettery 9. For Sparta, Zulu delivered a game-high 34 points, Flechtner scored 18 and Kulisic added 7. Esch also had to absorb a late disqualifying sequence for Edmilson Vieira Miguel.
(AI generated)