FC Porto is set to face Oliveirense in the Taça Hugo dos Santos final. The two teams have never met in the competition’s final before, despite both having won it in the past – FC Porto eight times and Oliveirense four.
The Dragons booked their spot in the final by edging out Benfica 95-104 in the semifinal after extra time. This win marked their fifth victory over Benfica this season, with a record of 4-1. FC Porto’s previous wins over Benfica include the Supertaça (93-97 a.p.) and the Taça de Portugal semifinal (94-84). Their only loss came in the Liga Betclic regular season (82-77) when they visited Benfica’s home ground.
Semifinal Highlights
The semifinal against Benfica was closely contested, with the scores tied at 84-84 with 46 seconds left. Trey Dreschel missed a potential winning shot for Benfica with just one second remaining.
In extra time, FC Porto’s Max Landis (29 points, 4 assists), Toney Douglas (16 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists), and Xeyrius Williams (17 points, 7 rebounds) played crucial roles. Landis hit two three-pointers, Douglas scored four consecutive points, and Williams added two more three-pointers, effectively sealing the win for FC Porto at 1:28 remaining (90-100).
Fernando Sá, FC Porto’s coach, praised his team’s performance, Foi um jogo em que nos voltámos a sentir bem e confortáveis enquanto o Benfica esteve em situações de homem contra homem. Mas quando passou para zona 2×3 demorámos um bocadinho a adaptarmo-nos.
He highlighted that when Benfica switched to a 2-3 zone defense, FC Porto struggled initially but managed to adapt and regain their composure.
Norberto Alves, Benfica’s coach, analyzed the game, pointing out that FC Porto’s defensive adjustments allowed them to regain control. He noted that despite having the last shot to win in the fourth quarter, they couldn’t capitalize on it.
Key Stats
- Max Landis: 29 points, 4 assists
- Toney Douglas: 16 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists
- Xeyrius Williams: 17 points, 7 rebounds
- Trey Dreschel: 13 points, 11 rebounds
FC Porto’s win over Benfica sets the stage for their final against Oliveirense.