FC Porto hosted and defeated Sporting 86-76 this Friday in the third game of the Portuguese Basketball League semi-final playoff in Porto, thus needing one more win to qualify for the final.
The two teams will face each other again on Sunday, once more at the Dragão Arena in Porto, in a match scheduled for 4:15 PM that could either give the Dragons a place in the final or force the Lions into a fifth game, at their home stadium, on June 3rd, for a decisive tiebreaker.
FC Porto started the game well, and Sporting reacted quickly, achieving a 10-0 run and taking the lead (9-19). However, the Dragons responded with nine unanswered points and an inspired Cornelius Hudson, allowing them to win the first quarter by the narrowest of margins.
The Lisbon team started the second period better and regained the lead (21-24) through four converted free throws, but FC Porto recovered and Gonçalo Delgado scored three consecutive points from the free-throw line, bringing the score to 34-29.
FC Porto took advantage of their momentum and Sporting’s poor defensive and offensive play to hold onto the lead they had gained, going into halftime with a 48-41 advantage.
In a game that rarely exceeded mediocrity, mostly due to Sporting’s performance, the second half opened with a 5-0 lead for the Lions, suggesting a close fight to the end, which didn’t materialize.
Miguel Queiroz and Cornelius Hudson halted Sporting’s comeback, bringing the score to 53-46, but Sporting managed to close the gap again with five consecutive points.
FC Porto maintained their lead, showing greater clarity and, above all, much greater strength in the rebounds, grabbing 46 rebounds compared to Sporting’s 31, which greatly contributed to their victory.
Porto won the third quarter (69-60), benefited from a strong offensive performance by Gonçalo Delgado, dominated the fourth period, and led by 12 points with less than two minutes remaining.
FC Porto won because they were more consistent and wasted fewer opportunities against an opponent who seemed anxious, was penalized for their weakness in rebounding, and was almost always chasing the score.
The blue and whites regained the lead in the semi-final, after winning the first game and losing the second, both at the Pavilhão João Rocha in Lisbon, with both rivals vying for a spot against the four-time champion Benfica, already qualified for the competition’s decisive match for the fifth time.