Benfica is one win away from its 31st national basketball title. They beat FC Porto in Game 2 of the Liga Betclic playoff final. Coach Norberto Alves isn’t celebrating yet, though. He wants his team to stay humble before the tough trip to Porto on Friday.
Alves said, “We played better as the game went on, but we made things complicated by trying to make flashy plays.” He thinks his team got a little too excited and started to rush their attacks. This helped FC Porto get back into the game. But in the end, Benfica’s defense came together again.
The team has had to deal with injuries to key players like Nico Carvacho and Tyler Stone. Alves explained why he made certain lineup choices, “We knew FC Porto might start Xeyrius Williams, so we went with Ivica Radic in the first game. But after losing, they changed things up, and we decided to bring in Tyler Stone.”
Looking ahead
Benfica will play the next game at FC Porto’s home court, in front of their fans. Alves knows his team needs to be united and focused. They can’t afford to make many mistakes. He warned, “Nothing is won yet. My experience tells me to keep the team focused, united, and humble. We’ve had a tough season, but we’ve stuck together.”
If Benfica wins the next game, they’ll be champions. But if they lose, they’ll have to play again in Porto. The series will only return to Lisbon if a fifth and final game is needed. The team that wins three games first will take the title.
What’s at stake
A win for Benfica would make them four-time champions. But FC Porto is still in the fight. The series is far from over, and both teams know what they’re playing for. Benfica just needs to stay focused and keep playing their game.