Portugal – Proliga Round 9: Academico FC defeats Vasco in the closest game of the week

PauloFerreira The most exciting game of round 9 in the Proliga took place in Porto. This derby game ended with only two-point home defeat of second-best Vasco (6-3) to fourth ranked Academico FC (5-4) 78-76 on Saturday evening. Point guard Goncalo Gorito (172-96) stepped up and scored 21 points and 5 steals for the winners and power forward Pedro Gouveia (192-94) chipped in 11 points and 8 rebounds. Academico FC’s coach Diogo Perdigao used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. The best for the losing side was naturalized Angolan forward Paulo Ferreira (187-80) with 16 points and 7 rebounds. Academico FC have a solid series of three victories in a row. Newly promoted Academico FC maintains fourth place in Group North with 5-4 record. Vasco at the other side keeps the second position with three games lost. They share it with Esgueira. Academico FC are looking forward to face Sangalhos (#8) at home in the next round. Vasco will play against Ginasio (#5) in Figueira da Foz and is hoping to win this game. Important game to mention about took place in Torres Vedras. Sixth ranked Fisica (4-6) saved a 3-point victory at home edging 8th ranked Academia (2-7) 79-76 on Saturday evening. Guard Miguel Salvador (187-81) nailed 21 points for the winning side and Frederico Tavares accounted for 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Cape Verdean forward Denis Neves (197-78) came up with 24 points for Academia in the defeat. Fisica moved-up to fifth place in Group South, which they share with Angra. Academia lost third consecutive game. They keep the eighth position with seven games lost. Fisica will play against higher ranked Estoril Basket (#3) at home in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Academia will have a break next round. The game between Top Four teams took place in Barreiro. First ranked host Barreirense (7-2) smashed 3rd placed Benfica B (5-4) 81-54. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Benfica B. The best player for the winners was Kenny Martin who had a double-double by scoring 20 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks. At the other side the best for losing team was Ricardo Monteiro who recorded 20 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Barreirense maintains first place in Group South with 7-2 record. Loser Benfica B keeps the third position with four games lost. They share it with Estoril Basket. Barreirense will meet at home Belenenses CF (#7) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Benfica B will have a break next round. The game between Top Four teams took place in Estoril. 3rd placed host Estoril Basket (5-4) lost to second ranked Terceira (6-2) 58-53. It was a good game for Mohamed Camara who led his team to a victory with 14 points and 9 rebounds. Estoril Basket’s coach Artur Cruz tried various players’ combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn’t help. Terceira maintains second place in Group South with 6-2 record behind leader Barreirense. Estoril Basket at the other side keeps the third position with four games lost. Terceira will have a break next round. Estoril Basket will play on the road against Fisica in Torres Vedras and it may be a tough game between close rivals. Proliga top team – Dragon Force (8-1) managed to deliver another win on Saturday. This time they beat eighth ranked Sangalhos (2-7) 70-61. Diogo Araujo stepped up and scored 11 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Dragon Force have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain first place in Group North with 8-1 record. Sangalhos lost sixth consecutive game. They keep the eighth position with seven games lost. Dragon Force will face Sanjoanense (#6) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Sangalhos will play against Academico FC and hope to win that game. There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 9: In Group North Guifoes was destroyed by Sanjoanense on the opponent’s court 83-60. Ginasio unfortunately lost to Esgueira in a home game 68-79. In Group South Angra was rolled over Belenenses CF on the road 65-85. NorthSanjoanense – Guifoes 83-60We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams when 6th ranked Guifoes (3-6) were crushed on the road by seventh ranked Sanjoanense (3-6) 83-60 on Saturday. Sanjoanense made 19-of-23 free shots (82.6 percent) during the game. Sanjoanense had a 29-17 advantage in offensive rebounds. Guifoes were plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. Forward Pedro Azevedo (193-81) stepped up and scored 32 points and 6 rebounds for the winners and point guard Pedro Costa (188-93) chipped in 16 points and 4 assists. The best for the losing side was swingman Pedro Meireless (193-95) with 14 points and 5 rebounds and forward Ricardo Alpuim (191-88) scored 14 points. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Sanjoanense moved-up to fifth place in Group North, which they share with Ginasio and Guifoes. Sanjoanense will face league’s leader Dragon Force in Porto in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Guifoes will play at home against Esgueira / Oli (#3) and it may be a …

continue reading in source www.eurobasket.com