FC Porto and Sporting have secured their spots in the basketball league playoffs semifinals after winning their respective quarterfinal matches.
The Porto team beat Imortal 84-95 in Albufeira, following their initial 88-74 win at Dragão Arena.
They started strong, leading 29-24 after the first 10 minutes, but Imortal fought back, narrowing the gap to just one point at halftime, 47-48.
Phil Fayne was the standout for Porto at that point with 11 points.
The third quarter was intense, with both teams scoring 19 and 20 points respectively, leaving the score tied at 67-67 heading into the final quarter.
Porto’s Fernando Sá-coached team stepped up in the last 10 minutes, outscoring Imortal 28-17 to seal their victory.
Devyn Marble led the way with 21 points and four rebounds, while Toney Douglas added 19 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
Moses Flowers was Imortal’s top performer with 23 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
Sporting Advances
Sporting also booked their semifinal spot with an 83-88 win over Galitos at Pavilhão Municipal Prof. Luís Carvalho.
They had already won the first leg 90-79 at João Rocha.
The Lisbon side dominated three of the four quarters, allowing Galitos to close the gap in the final period.
Sporting maintained a five-point lead, despite Galitos’s late surge.
Nicholas Ward was Sporting’s standout with a double-double: 21 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, and two steals.
Claude Robinson led Galitos with 21 points, nine rebounds, and one assist.
Semifinal Matchup
The stage is now set for a semifinal clash between FC Porto and Sporting.
Both teams have shown their strength, overcoming their quarterfinal opponents with convincing wins.
The matchup promises to be an exciting one, with both teams looking to secure a spot in the final.