Friends beat Electric and turn their eyes on the playoffs

In Ponte de Sôr, the CAB's men's team played the first game of a double journey, which also includes a trip to Maia to face the local team. Today's game had a special character for Friends, as a victory could ensure the maintenance of the Madeiran team in the Professional League and strengthen their chances of reaching the playoff. The game did not begin in the best way for Friends, who failed their first 10 throws to the basket. This situation played in favor of the house team who, at some point, led the match by a dozen points. But the Friends reacted in time and ended the first period with a 'only' deficit of three points (15-12, in favour of the House). With three minutes of play in the second half, the CAB moved ahead of the scorer (17-18). Despite the 'pointing' remaining out of tune (13 baskets converted into 36 attempts made, to the range), especially in the chapter of the three-point releases (1 converted into 9 attempts, in the first part of the game), the CAB won the second half (10-19) and reached the interval in front of the marker by 25-31. In the third half, there was much balance between the two sets. However, the CAB was slightly better (gained the partial by 22-25), especially in the second part of the time, the result essentially of better ball management and greater accuracy in field pitches. Also important was the precious contribution of the CAB 'bank', which, with thirty minutes of play, had already scored 16 of the 56 points registered by Friends, while the opponent 'bank' only scored 9 points. With the marker in 47-56, the CAB entered the fourth period. But with three minutes played, the Electric reduced to a dangerous result of 55-59, numbers that revealed that the game would be much played to the end. a 0-8 partial of the CAB placed the margin of superiority of Friends in 55-67 when there were just under 4 minutes to the end of the game. By the end of the meeting, the CAB managed the gained advantage. The tram still gambled everything-for-all to counter defeat, but the 'nervos' of the Madeirans were steel. With less than a minute to play, Fabio Lima, Jovoni Shuler and DeAndre Mays, from the free throw line, placed the scorer in 64-71, resulting in the end of the game. With this victory, the CAB secured maintenance in the Professional League, as it ensured, over the team that follows it in the classification (in particular, the Electric) a punctual advantage that will remain until the end of the Second Phase, even in the worst of scenarios. Friends now focus on fighting for a place in the playoffs, a goal hampered by today's victory over the Lusitania, but not at all impossible. In individual terms: Jovoni Shuler (20), DeAndre Mays (14), Diogo Ventura (11), George Blakeney (9), Fabio Lima (5), Bruno Cavalcante (5), Jorge Coelho (7).