Friends win Lusitania and pack for the playoffs

The CAB moved to the Azores to face the Lusitania team. The confrontation placed face-to-face two teams that know each other very well because they have already measured forces several times, in several competitions, the last of which in the first round of 'Final 8' of the Portuguese Cup, played last weekend, with the victory smiling at the CAB. This time, the game did not begin in the best way for the Madeirans. In fact, in the first two times, the men of the CAB showed a much lower efficacy than normal and some misgivings in defense that are not typical of them. The failures of the CAB were seized with merit by the Azoreans, who reached the interval to lead by 56-48. In the third half, everything was different. The CAB launched better, defended much better and, as a result, dominated the match. The Madeirans not only won the partial (11-29), but also managed to move ahead of the marker by a margin of ten points (67-77). Last time, the match was much disputed. Lusitania never gave up and forced the CAB to a constant delivery to the game. In the middle of the partial, the CAB continued with a dozen points of advantage (78-88), but three minutes from the end, the Azoreans had already reduced to 84-91, showing that it would be a fight until the end. Despite the pressure of Lusitania, the CAB remained true to its style of play, not faltering and always managing to hold an ascent in the match. For this reason, with fairness, the victory was the result of the Friends, 100-104, an achievement that practically guarantees the presence of the CAB in the playoffs of the Men's League, one of the goals set at the beginning of the season. On Saturday, the CAB returns to Funchal to face the formation of Maia on Sunday. The game against the Northmen will be another hard test for the commands of João Paulo Silva, so we wish our 'our boys' all luck and success.