Breogán advances to the semifinals with a victory over Manchester

The Breogán River continues its unstoppable journey in the preliminary phase of the Basketball Champions League after dispatching Manchester with a resounding 84-105. The celestes have won both of their matches played in Samokov, surpassing the hundred-point barrier on both occasions, putting them just two victories away from advancing to the group stage of the continental competition.

The team from Lugo will face Dziki Warsaw this Saturday at 5:00 PM, with coverage on TVG2. A semifinal that represents the next hurdle for a team that is demonstrating defensive solidity and offensive capability in Bulgarian territory.

The English start and the Celestial reaction

Manchester began the match with more energy and accuracy. Former ACB player Nelson acted as the offensive reference for the British, who scored a 7-0 run that seemed to herald complications for Breogán. However, the reaction came swiftly. A three-pointer from Francis Alonso broke that initial streak and activated the offensive mechanisms of the Lugo team, who tied the score at seven points in the third minute.

From that moment on, Breogán significantly increased their defensive activity. They took the lead on the scoreboard (9-13), and a three-pointer from Tevin Brown forced Matthew Owen's first timeout when the scoreboard showed 11-18. The first quarter ended with a favorable 14-25 that reflected the early dominance of Luis Casimiro's team.

The first half as a turning point

Rasir Bolton, returning to competition after recovering from an injury, was decisive at the start of the second period. The Lugo point guard scored seven consecutive points to stretch the lead to 19-32, significantly increasing the advantage. The celeste team dominated both in the paint, first with Brankovic and later with Ilic, as well as from the perimeter, although their three-point shooting was not particularly brilliant at 6 of 17.

Manchester, on the other hand, showed evident difficulties from beyond the arc, managing to hit only 1 of 7 attempts. With Dominik Mavra directing play and contributing ten points in the first half, the difference grew to eighteen points (28-46). At halftime, Breogán went to the locker room with a twenty-point lead (33-54), solidified by a basket from Tevin Brown after a steal at the buzzer.

The third quarter and managing the lead

The third period brought more dynamism than accuracy for both teams. This allowed the British to cut the deficit to eighteen points (40-58). Andric and Brown halted the English attempt at a comeback from the three-point line, establishing a 42-64 that marked the point of no return for Manchester. From that moment on, the visiting team hovered around a twenty-point deficit without creating any dangerous approaches. The period ended with a score of 54-74.

In the final quarter, Luis Casimiro opted to conserve efforts for some of his players, thinking ahead to the match on Saturday against Dziki Warsaw. The game turned into a trade of baskets without significant competitive consequences. Edgar Vicedo scored five consecutive points, while Johnson, the top English scorer with twenty-two points, hit a three-pointer that left it at 75-91 with four minutes to go. Two three-pointers from Francis Alonso and Aranitovic restored the difference to twenty points, sealing the final result of 84-105.

Statistics and individual performances

Five celeste players surpassed the ten-point mark: Tevin Brown, Francis Alonso, Rasir Bolton, Dominik Mavra, and Aranitovic. Breogán also dominated the rebounding game (33-42) and shooting percentages, demonstrating clear superiority both offensively and defensively.

Injuries and upcoming commitments

The negative note of the match was the absence of Josep Peris, who, as Luis Casimiro explained, was unable to train with the team. This absence adds to that of Andersson García, who is still unable to join due to pending bureaucratic procedures.

Dziki Warsaw, the semifinal opponent, surprised by eliminating the Latvian VEF Riga 102-95. The matchup between Breogán and the Polish team will take place on Saturday at 5:00 PM. If they advance from this round, the final will be on Sunday at 7:30 PM. Two games in just over twenty-four hours for a spot in the group stage, where teams like Hapoel Holon, Cholet Basket, and Spartak Office Shoes await.

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