Musel Pikes turned this Phase finale return opener into a clear revenge game, beating Arantia Larochette 72-35 after having lost the first meeting 71-61. Hichem El Basri's team moved up to 1st place (+1) at 5-1 and stretched its winning run to five games, while Arantia stayed 5th at 2-4 and is now on a three-game losing streak.
The game was competitive only in the opening minutes. Arantia went in front 6-5 behind Rui Carlos Silva (Season PPG: 15.44), but Musel quickly took control. From that moment, the home side closed the first quarter on a 17-4 run for 22-10. Captain Jack Kemmer (Season PPG: 16.23) was already decisive there, scoring Musel's last 8 points of the period.
Arantia reacted in the second quarter and cut the gap to 28-20, again with Silva carrying the offense. That was their best spell. Musel answered immediately with an 8-0 finish to the half, going to 36-20 and restoring full control of the game.
The decisive break came after halftime. Musel opened the third quarter with a 13-0 run to 49-20. Kemmer scored 6 points in a row during that surge and finished with 26 points, all from two-point field goals. Lex Flies (Season PPG: 14.79) added 8, Adam Hammed had 8, and Cédric Meyers (Season PPG: 11.27), Tun Fixemer Faramelli and Jean Henri Fischer each scored 6. The lead reached 59-27 by the end of the third quarter and peaked at 37.
For Arantia, Silva finished with 16 points and their only made three-pointer. Jules Schalbar, Ben Welter and captain Finn Brosius (Season PPG: 10.80) each scored 6. The 13-year-old Italian Rody Minutella also gave Musel useful energy early and during the third-quarter push.
(AI generated)