Basket Esch C controlled US Heffingen 75-42 in the Phase finale opener, building their win on a decisive second quarter and strong bench impact under coach Roger Do Rosario. After a balanced first period (11-10), Heffingen briefly led 11-12 through Jan Vyroubal (Season PPG: 4.22), but Esch answered with a 20-2 surge to 39-17 before halftime. Niksa Oroz (Season PPG: 18.5, HRV, 14) sparked the breakaway with six consecutive points in mid-quarter, while Redzep Ramovic (Season PPG: 8.13, 14) added back-to-back baskets for 22-15 and 24-15, two free throws, and another field goal to keep the momentum rolling. Heffingen's timeout early in Q2 didn't slow the hosts.
Esch led 42-20 at the half and stretched it to 60-28 after three, with Marvin Semedo Gomes (15, PRT) and Paul Agustine Mendy Cardenas chipping in. The largest gap reached +35 at 75-40 before the final 75-42. Captain Enzo Neves Casemiro (Season PPG: 5.57) scored 7 but had to manage two quick personals in the first quarter.
Top scorers for Esch: Oroz 19 and Ramovic 19, supported by Joao Carlos Dos Santos Vieira (Season PPG: 3.17) with 9 and Duarte Gonvalves Ponciano (15, PRT) with 8. For Heffingen, Vyroubal led with 12, Tim Yeong-Jun Kass (Season PPG: 3.38) added 9, Max Klemann (Season PPG: 10.5) 8, and Jim Seyler 7. Diego Vaz Pereira (14) opened their account early but Esch's depth wore them down under coach Andrej Gruskovnjak's side.
Esch move to the top of the Phase finale standings (rank 1), continuing an uptick after earlier struggles, while Heffingen remain winless this season, their slide extending.
(AI generated)