Friends Win Victory in Game of Strong Emotions

The men's team at the CAB received, in its pavilion, the formation of Victoria. In a playoff series that were mediated by Jovonni Schuler's historical release at the end of the second game, in which the Friends tied the elimination to a win for each side, the CAB tried, in its stronghold, to outperform the continentals in the race for the Men's League semi-finals. The game was anticipated, very physical and with high levels of delivery of both parties. The match began best for the Madeiran team, which built, in the first few minutes, an 8-0 superiority. This positive start was due not only to a great defensive aggressiveness on the part of the home athletes, but also to a careful selection of offensive options. Victoria's response came next, with visitors balancing the match and the scorer. In the final phases of the first period, the CAB still led, but a triple of the continentals to the sound of the horn sentenced the result of the first period in 16-17, in favor of the Guimarães class. In the second period, balance was again the dominant note between the two formations. In the CAB, the offensive game alternated between outside solutions and the inner game, with Madeirans demonstrating patience and intelligence in managing their attack. However, some defensive slips allowed visitors to stay in the race and in front of the marker. At the interval, the result was 32-34, still favorable to the Victory, but the perspectives for the CAB were all open, in the conviction that, with work, the result could be turned in favor of the Madeirans. On the return of the locker rooms, the CAB came back in better, and, with four minutes of play, it moved ahead of the marker. The CAB Pavilion vibrated with the moment and made itself heard in support of the team. However, similar to what had happened in the previous period, Vitória responded and, as the period approached the end, again took over the reins of the game and set the marker at 47-53, a result with which the teams finished the third half. In the fourth period, the CAB had another phenomenal entry, fruit essentially of its exterior game. Collectively, the team did very well and demonstrated, in addition to good basketball, great capacity for suffering. Behind the marker, the visiting team increased pressure on the Madeirans. 'Loaded' by its audience, tireless in supporting the team, the CAB was able to resist everything, and, in another end unfit for heart, led to the victory of the match by 74-72.