Liga Betclic Round 1 (Regular Season): Benfica fire past Sporting

The Regular Season in Liga Betclic just started. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Benfica defeated Sporting in Lisbon 84-71. Benfica made 21-of-26 free shots (80.8 percent) during the game. American forward Brandon Slater (203-1999, college: Villanova) stepped up and scored 21 points and 9 rebounds for the winners and his fellow American import guard Luther Muhammad (191-1999, college: Arizona St.) chipped in 21 points and 4 assists. At the losing side American guard Liam O'Reilly (188-1996, college: Gardner-Webb) responded with 26 points. Sporting's coach Luis Magalhaes rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Sporting will play next round against Esgueira trying to get back on the winning streak. Benfica will try to continue on its current victory against FC Porto on the road.
The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Queluz at the home court. Hosts were defeated by FC Porto 110-93. Liberian-American guard Thomas Bropleh (196-1991, college: Boise St.) nailed 25 points and 6 rebounds for the winning side and Childe Dundao accounted for 15 points and 4 assists. American guard Justice Shoats (180-2004, college: Siena) came up with 25 points and 5 assists (on 10-of-11 shooting from the field) for Queluz in the defeat. Queluz's coach tested ten players seeing no chance for a win. FC Porto will play against Benfica in Lisbon in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Queluz will have a break next round.
Quite upsetting was Portimonense's home defeat in a game versus Oliveirense 91-82. Caelum Swanton-Rodger fired 14 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Oliveirense's coach Pablo Cano used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Giancarlo Rosado produced 18 points and 6 rebounds for lost side. Oliveirense will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Portimonense will play against Braga and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 1: Vitoria won against CAB Madeira on the opponent's court 83-78. Ovarense managed to outperform Braga in a home game 96-83. Povoa rolled over Esgueira on the road 84-64.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 10 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists by Matic Lamut of Povoa.



Queluz - FC Porto 93-110:
The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Queluz at the home court. Hosts were defeated by FC Porto 110-93. FC Porto dominated down low during the game scoring 66 of its points in the paint compared to Queluz's 46. They outrebounded Queluz 39-24 including a 23-12 advantage in defensive rebounds. FC Porto players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. Liberian-American guard Thomas Bropleh (196-1991, college: Boise St.) nailed 25 points and 6 rebounds for the winning side and Angolan point guard Childe Dundao (169-1998) accounted for 15 points and 4 assists. American guard Justice Shoats (180-2004, college: Siena) came up with 25 points and 5 assists (on 10-of-11 shooting from the field) and the other American import forward Donte Bacchus (201, college: N.Alabama) added 16 points and 6 rebounds respectively for Queluz in the defeat. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Queluz's coach tested ten players seeing no chance for a win. FC Porto will play against Benfica in Lisbon in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Queluz will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Queluz: J.Shoats 25+1reb+5ast, A.Thiam 17+1reb+1ast, B.Donte 16+6reb, J.Thomas 12+2reb+6ast, D.Ridgnal 10+6reb+1ast, I.Pavicevic 7+5reb
FC Porto: B.Thomas 25+6reb+3ast, V.Vladyslav 16+1reb, D.Childe 15+4reb+4ast, Q.Miguel 12+7reb+1ast, A.Corey 11+6reb+5ast, O.Tanner 11+7reb+2ast

CAB Madeira - Vitoria 78-83:
But CAB Madeira was not able to use a home court advantage and was defeated by the opponent from Guimaraes 83-78 on Saturday night. American forward Rog Stein (198-1999, college: Indiana Tech) fired a double-double by scoring 17 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. Center Diogo Runge (206-2001, agency: Promo Sport ID) chipped in 15 points and 8 rebounds. American forward Fred Thomas (196-1993, college: MSU, agency: Helping Ballers) produced 24 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and Canadian point guard Miguel Tomley (191-2000, college: Weber St.) added 17 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for lost side. Five Vitoria and four CAB Madeira players scored in double figures. CAB Madeira's coach let to play ten players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Vitoria will meet at home Ovarense in the next round. CAB Madeira will play against Povoa and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
CAB Madeira: F.Thomas 24+6reb+5ast, M.Tomley 17+8reb+4ast, C.Heinz 11+9reb+2ast, N.Sa 10+9reb+1ast, M.Silva 9+5reb+1ast, F.Bernardo 7+3reb+8ast
Vitoria: S.Tedoyame 17+2reb+3ast, S.Rog 17+13reb+6ast, M.Drumwright 16+3reb+4ast, G.Afonso 16+7reb+1ast, R.Diogo 15+8reb+2ast, R.Costa 2

Ovarense - Braga 96-83:
Ovarense used a home court advantage and defeated the opponent from Braga 96-83 on Saturday night. Ovarense looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists comparing to just 16 passes made by Braga's players. American guard Leon Ayers III (195-2000, college: BGSU) fired 23 points for the winners. His fellow American import guard Antonio Woods (185-1995, college: Pennsylvania) chipped in a double-double by scoring 14 points and 10 assists. Ovarense's coach Joao Tiago used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Angolan forward Aboubacar Gakou (201-1997) produced 20 points and 5 rebounds and point guard Carlos Cardoso (183-1997) added 14 points and 5 rebounds respectively for lost side. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Ovarense will meet Vitoria in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Braga will play against Portimonense and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Braga: A.Gakou 20+5reb, A.Silva 14+5ast, C.Carlos 14+5reb+2ast, J.Sibert 12+2reb+1ast, R.Monteiro 9+8reb+2ast, C.Miguel 7+2reb+4ast
Ovarense: A.Leon 23+3reb+2ast, C.Devan 16+8reb+2ast, W.Antonio 14+2reb+10ast, P.Jerome 12+6reb+2ast, O.Leo 9+2reb+1ast, M.Nuno 8+2reb

Portimonense - Oliveirense 82-91:
Quite upsetting was Portimonense's home defeat in a game versus Oliveirense 91-82. Oliveirense dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Portimonense's 36. Canadian forward Caelum Swanton-Rodger (213-2003, college: ODU, agency: AOK Sports) fired 14 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. American swingman Malik Morgan (194-1994, college: Tulane) chipped in 12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Oliveirense's coach Pablo Cano used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American forward Giancarlo Rosado (203-2002, college: Charlotte) produced 18 points and 6 rebounds and the other American import guard Mason Landdeck (191-2003, college: MSUB) added 18 points and 5 assists (made all of his ten free throws !!!) respectively for lost side. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Oliveirense will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Portimonense will play against Braga and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Portimonense: M.Landdeck 18+3reb+5ast, G.Rosado 18+6reb+2ast, L.Rahama 13+5reb, T.Coleman 11+10reb+1ast, F.Dulcinio 9+4reb, J.Grewal 7+1reb+5ast
Oliveirense: P.Gyasi 16+1reb, S.Caelum 14+7reb+1ast, N.Prentiss 13+1reb+2ast, V.Salvador 12+2reb+5ast, M.Malik 12+6reb+4ast, T.Jay'Den 10+5reb

Benfica - Sporting 84-71:
Benfica defeated Sporting in Lisbon 84-71. Benfica made 21-of-26 free shots (80.8 percent) during the game. American forward Brandon Slater (203-1999, college: Villanova) stepped up and scored 21 points and 9 rebounds for the winners and his fellow American import guard Luther Muhammad (191-1999, college: Arizona St.) chipped in 21 points and 4 assists. Four Benfica players scored in double figures. At the losing side American guard Liam O'Reilly (188-1996, college: Gardner-Webb) responded with 26 points and ex-international Francisco Amarante (196-2000) scored 9 points and 5 rebounds. Sporting's coach Luis Magalhaes rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Sporting will play next round against Esgueira trying to get back on the winning streak. Benfica will try to continue on its current victory against FC Porto on the road.
Top scorers:
Sporting: L.O'Reilly 26+1reb+2ast, J.Davis 11+2reb, F.Amarante 9+5reb+2ast, D.Ventura 6+3reb+4ast, T.Baskin 5+4reb+1ast, G.Kalscheur 5+4reb+2ast
Benfica: M.Luther 21+4reb+4ast, S.Brandon 21+9reb+2ast, B.Luke 12+10reb+2ast, D.Aleksander 11+6reb, C.Geno 8+3reb+4ast, B.Aaron 5+4reb

Esgueira - Povoa 64-84:
But Esgueira was not able to use a home court advantage and was rolled over by the opponent from Povoa 84-64 on Saturday night. Povoa dominated down low during the game scoring 52 of its points in the paint compared to Esgueira's 24. Slovenian Matic Lamut (199-2003) fired a double-double by scoring 10 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. ex-international Betinho Gomes (201-1985) chipped in 14 points and 6 rebounds. Povoa's coach Jose Ricardo Rodrigues used an eleven-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. American guard Justin Bailey (190-2004, college: Georgia) produced 22 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals (made all of his nine free throws !!!) and point guard Pedro Carvalhal (179-2003) added 18 points and 8 rebounds respectively for lost side. Povoa will meet at home CAB Madeira in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Esgueira will play against Sporting in Lisbon and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Esgueira: J.Bailey 22+7reb+4ast, C.Pedro 18+8reb+3ast, A.Yeratel 10+8reb, M.Joao 6+1reb, F.Ferreira 5+5reb+3ast, N.Francisco 2
Povoa: G.Betinho 14+6reb+1ast, B.Abdul 13+6reb+1ast, L.Matic 10+12reb+5ast, J.Costa 9+6reb, P.Jone 9+1reb, J.Okemirie 8+7reb