Friends pull out huge victory and tie the series

The CAB is one of the best basketball teams in Portugal. Madeira has every reason to be very proud of the men's team at the CAB. Two conclusions that are obvious to all CAB supporters. Today, after the victory of the Friends before Benfica, in the Light, by 73-74, these conclusions are also evident throughout the country. In fact, a strong, united CAB, with an enormous sense of solidarity and aware that in its collective, its biggest weapon was a basketball team in every sense, dominating the game against an opponent with a budget that is not even compared to that of the Madeira team, because it is so often superior. Friends entered the game well, showing great concentration and ability to select in the releases. In defense, the CAB was also very cohesive and able to close the paths to the basket at its guard. Benfica sought an answer in the individual talent of his main players, and even winning the first half (18-17), the collective solutions of the Madeirans showed that they were in the Light to discuss the game, not to deliver the game 'in a tray'. In the second half, the CAB was ‘king and lord’ of the departure, a fact well mirrored in the period’s palace (10-21). The Friends stated, in a difficult and hostile terrain, all their basketball skills, both in attack and defense. In fact, it is fair to say that, in the second half and throughout the game, it was the defense that allowed the CAB to contain the individual talent that abounds in Benfica and, from good defensive attitudes, to build effective offensive solutions and always guided by a great group spirit. In all fairness, the timber team went for the break to win by a dozen points (28-38), but also aware that nothing was won and that they would have to work hard to win the powerful team of the house. The third half began in the best way for the CAB team, which built up an advantage that came to be sixteen points. A Pavilion of Light watched astonishment of the luxury of Madeirans, probably asking how such a humble squad was, in the middle of their opponent’s home, offering a ‘recital’ of good basketball, based on a great team spirit of a group of players who have shown, several times, that they are a ‘family’. The Benfica eventually won the third partial (24-23), but only thanks to a physical breakdown of the CAB in the final straight of the third half, because over the period, the CAB was clearly superior and justified being ahead of the marker (52-61) when thirty minutes had been played. In the last period, as you might expect, Benfica's pressure was enormous. Using a constant rotation of its vast and rich squad, Benfica gave the ‘everything’ to wear down the men of the CAB. However, one minute from the end, the CAB still led by one point (71-72). In the sixty seconds that followed, uncertainty was a constant, and at twenty-eight seconds of the end, the men of the house passed forward (73-72). When many would have given up and lowered their arms, the CAB men showed why they are an example of how to play basketball!... Two free throws of Fábio Lima, who never 'tremeo', put the Friends in front (73-74), leaving nine seconds on the marker. In these nine seconds, Alex Marzette’s ‘smell’ and Fred Gentry’s second ‘against’ ensured that the marker would look as it was and that the CAB would bring to Madeira the ‘series’ tied to a game for each side. Undoubtedly, a victory of the ‘heart’ of a team that wanted more, that played more, that risked more and that gave everything it had because it was not intimidated by the opponent power, winning a truly remarkable victory. They won because they were a real ‘family’ – and for that reason too, in these boys we have all our pride! The next two games of this ‘playoff’ phase are played in Madeira, the CAB Pavilion, on Saturday (16h00) and also on Sunday (16h00). We'll be there... Why? WHY WE BELIEVE!