BBC BIL edged KPMG 51-50 in Dreiborn after a tense finish. The hosts built the early cushion on a fast start from Luka Jovicic, who buried multiple early threes as BIL raced to an 11-2 lead and took the first quarter 13-11. KPMG leaned on Asier Ugarte to stay in touch, but BIL, coached by Claude Victor, kept control to halftime at 30-25.
The third quarter swung briefly when player-coach Alexandre Weinand scored seven points in a row (3, 2, 2) to pull KPMG level at 32-32. BIL replied instantly: Revyll-Jones Ratanga hit a three, and Dany Deaibes strung together back-to-back baskets to restore daylight. BIL entered the last period up 44-36.
KPMG then flipped the game with a 10-0 run to start the fourth, taking a 46-44 lead through consecutive baskets from Weinand, Kharthik Kumar Chellappan and Ugarte, and later stretched it to 50-46. BIL steadied through Ratanga, who scored twice in response to knot it at 50-50, setting up the finale.
Captain Arnaud Gallais provided the game-winner from the line, his lone free throw making it 51-50 in the closing moments. BIL had to navigate the ending without starter Cliftn Cano, who picked up two quick fouls in the second quarter, added more in the third, and fouled out in the fourth. KPMG's Carlos Wagner committed two fouls in a row early in the third and finished with three.
Top performers
- BBC BIL: Revyll-Jones Ratanga (18) drove key third- and fourth-quarter possessions; Luka Jovicic (16) set the tone with his early long-range burst; Dany Deaibes (10) supplied timely mid-game scoring; Gallais (5) hit the decisive point.
- KPMG: Asier Ugarte (22) was the game's top scorer and central to the fourth-quarter surge; Alexandre Weinand (9) sparked the third-quarter comeback; Kharthik Kumar Chellappan (9) added an energetic final period.
(AI generated)
BBC BIL