Friends slip back into high-pressure play

The CAB has moved north of the country to confront Maia, a team that is conducting a respectable campaign in this year's Men's League. The CAB really wanted to win the game to get back in the rhythm of victory, but the task would not be easy given the quality of the opponent ahead. The game began in a very balanced way and until about half of the first period, when the scorer scored a 7-point draw. However, a partial of 0-9 was followed in favour of the Madeirans, who forced the house to ask for a time-out. However, the response of the continentals did not emerge as expressively as they would like, because the CAB won the first half for the result of 17-21. To record, in the first period of the game, the low percentage of realization of the players of the house (31%), which contrasted with the superior use of Friends (54%). In the second half, balance was again the dominant note at the beginning of the period. However, when they were about 6 minutes away, the CAB surprised the Maya with a partial of 0-7, placing the game on 26-38, a 12-point margin that was justified in the face of the ascendant that the Madeirans had registered. The superiority of the commendees by João Paulo Silva remained until the interval, which arrived with the CAB in the leadership by 16 points (32-48). At this stage of the meeting, the right ones in the CAB were Jovonni Shuler (13 points), Orlan Jackman (13 points) and Fabio Lima (6 points, 10 points). In the house, the most effective players were Nuno Marçal (13 points) and Maxey (4 points). On the return to the game, the CAB entered very strongly, and, with 2 minutes elapsed, had already increased the point advantage in the scorer to 22 points (32-54). As time went on, the CAB’s exterior shot began to appear in greater efficiency than it had been in the first part of the meeting. As a consequence, Friends assumed, even more, the domain of the encounter and the punctual advantage remained expressive. No surprise, with three periods played, the CAB continued ahead for 52-71. To highlight the good offensive attitude of the CAB, exemplified in the diversity of games that were contributing to the score of the Madeirans. Highlight for Orlan Jackman (which already took 25 points at the end of the third half), but also for Jovonni Shuler (13), Fabio Lima (12) and Duke Forbes (10). In the last time, the CAB did not enter as well as in previous periods. The situation was taken advantage, with merit, by the Maia, who 'put on the fact of work', and, with 3 minutes of play elapsed, reduced the advantage of Friends to only 9 points (62-71), forcing the Madeiran coach to ask for a time discount. The CAB reaction was not immediate, and 2 minutes later the advantage was reduced to only 6 points (70-73), with Maia confirming a partial of 18-2, very dangerous for the CAB. Maia's ascendant forced the CAB to ask for a time-out. The interruption was used by Coach João Paulo Silva to try to 'awaken' his players of the apathy in which they had fallen. On his return to the game, Maia pressed the CAB to force the Madeirans to make more slips. When only 40 seconds left, the CAB led by the minimum advantage (77-78), but a triple of the Maya ending the match gave the house's victory by 80-78. In individual terms: Jorge Coelho (7), Jovoni Shuler (13), Duke Forbes (10), Diogo Ventura (1), Anthony Hill (8), Fabio Lima (14), Orlan Jackman (25).