Liga Betclic Round 5 (Regular Season): Ovarense defeat Imortal in the closest game of the week

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 5 in the Liga Betclic took place in Ovar. This derby game ended with only one-point defeat on the road of 7th ranked Imortal (2-3) to fourth ranked Ovarense (4-1) 72-71 on Saturday evening. Americans were the main players on the court. Power forward Jackson Stormo (206-1999, college: Siena) stepped up and scored 28 points and 8 rebounds for the winners and guard Antonio Woods (185-1995, college: Pennsylvania) chipped in 12 points and 4 assists. Guard Kyle Cardaci (188-2000, college: St.Peter's) responded with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Ovarense moved-up to second place, which they share with Sporting. Imortal lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the eighth position with three games lost. They share it with Oliveirense. Ovarense is looking forward to face bottom-ranked Vitoria SC (#12) in Guimaraes in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Imortal will play at home against Galitos-Barreiro (#11) and is hoping to prove to their supporters that they can break losing series.
Important game to mention about took place in Braga. Eighth ranked Braga (3-2) saved a 3-point victory at home edging 7th ranked Oliveirense (2-3) 66-63 on Sunday evening. Ivorian-American forward Mike Fofana (206-1997, college: HSU) nailed 14 points and 9 rebounds for the winning side and Ricardo Monteiro accounted for 10 points and 11 rebounds. American forward Jimmy Boeheim (203-1998, college: Syracuse) came up with 26 points and 8 rebounds for Oliveirense in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Braga have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with 3 other teams. Oliveirense at the other side dropped to the eighth position with three games lost. They share it with Imortal. Braga will play against league's second-placed Sporting in Lisbon in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Oliveirense will play at home against Esgueira (#5) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
The game between Top Four teams took place in Queluz. 3rd placed host Queluz (3-2) was smashed by leader Benfica (5-0) 101-80. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Queluz. The best player for the winners was Geno Crandall who scored 21 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists and 5 steals. Benfica's coach Norberto Alves felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Dericko Williams produced 25 points for the hosts. Undefeated Benfica have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 5-0 record. Loser Queluz dropped to the fourth position with two games lost. They share it with 3 other teams. Benfica will meet at home FC Porto (#6) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Queluz will play against Vasco da Gama in Porto and hope to secure a win.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 5: winless Vitoria SC was destroyed by FC Porto on the opponent's court 105-85. Winless Galitos-Barreiro was outscored by Sporting in a home game 86-127. Vasco da Gama recorded a loss to Esgueira on the road 107-103.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 30 points, 5 rebounds and 15 assists by Latrell Reid of Esgueira.



FC Porto - Vitoria SC 105-85

Very expected game when bottom-ranked Vitoria SC (0-5) was crushed on the road by eighth ranked FC Porto (3-2) 105-85 on Saturday. FC Porto forced 20 Vitoria SC turnovers. Strangely Vitoria SC outrebounded FC Porto 41-25 including 27 on the defensive glass. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 32 assists comparing to just 10 passes made by Vitoria SC's players. The best player for the winners was American forward Javian Davis (206-1999, college: UAB) who scored 22 points and 5 rebounds. His fellow American import point guard Jalen Riley (184-1993, college: ETSU) chipped in 17 points and 8 assists. Four FC Porto players scored in double figures. American guard Malique Jacobs (190-2000, college: Kent St.) produced a double-double by scoring 21 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists and Canadian forward Jasman Sangha (203-1999, college: Canisius) added 19 points and 5 rebounds respectively for the guests. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. FC Porto moved-up to fourth place, which they share with 3 other teams. Loser Vitoria SC still closes the standings with five games lost. They share the position with Galitos-Barreiro. FC Porto will meet league's leader Benfica in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Vitoria SC will play against Ovarense (#3) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
FC Porto: D.Javian 22+5reb+2ast, T.Axel 18+3reb+3ast, R.Jalen 17+8ast, D.Jhonathan 12+5reb+2ast, S.Silva 6+1ast, V.Vladyslav 6+3reb+2ast
Vitoria SC: M.Jacobs 21+10reb+4ast, J.Sangha 19+5reb, S.Peek 15+5reb+2ast, B.Pedro 7+3reb, B.Jaxson 7+8reb, M.Case 5+3reb+1ast

Braga - Oliveirense 66-63

Important game to mention about took place in Braga. Eighth ranked Braga (3-2) saved a 3-point victory at home edging 7th ranked Oliveirense (2-3) 66-63 on Sunday evening. Braga players were unselfish on offense dishing 26 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Oliveirense's players. Ivorian-American forward Mike Fofana (206-1997, college: HSU) nailed 14 points and 9 rebounds for the winning side and international center Ricardo Monteiro (208-1997) accounted for 10 points and 11 rebounds. Four Braga players scored in double figures. American forward Jimmy Boeheim (203-1998, college: Syracuse) came up with 26 points and 8 rebounds and Canadian forward Mikyle McIntosh (201-1994, college: Oregon) added 8 points and 7 rebounds respectively for Oliveirense in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Braga have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with 3 other teams. Oliveirense at the other side dropped to the eighth position with three games lost. They share it with Imortal. Braga will play against league's second-placed Sporting in Lisbon in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Oliveirense will play at home against Esgueira (#5) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Braga: F.Mike 14+9reb, R.Broderick 11+1reb+5ast, M.Ricardo 10+11reb+2ast, D.Somto 10+2reb+2ast, S.Candido 9+11reb+2ast, B.Jesse 4+1reb
Oliveirense: J.Boeheim 26+8reb+2ast, J.Barbosa 9+1reb, M.McIntosh 8+7reb+2ast, J.Sibert 6+3reb+1ast, E.Timberlake Jr. 5+9reb+2ast, B.Andre 5+1reb+4ast

Ovarense - Imortal 72-71

The most exciting game of round 5 in the Liga Betclic took place in Ovar. This derby game ended with only one-point defeat on the road of 7th ranked Imortal (2-3) to fourth ranked Ovarense (4-1) 72-71 on Saturday evening. Americans were the main players on the court. Power forward Jackson Stormo (206-1999, college: Siena) stepped up and scored 28 points and 8 rebounds for the winners and guard Antonio Woods (185-1995, college: Pennsylvania) chipped in 12 points and 4 assists. Guard Kyle Cardaci (188-2000, college: St.Peter's) responded with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and guard Keonte Kennedy (196-2000, college: California) scored 20 points and 6 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Ovarense moved-up to second place, which they share with Sporting. Imortal lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the eighth position with three games lost. They share it with Oliveirense. Ovarense is looking forward to face bottom-ranked Vitoria SC (#12) in Guimaraes in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Imortal will play at home against Galitos-Barreiro (#11) and is hoping to prove to their supporters that they can break losing series.
Top scorers:
Ovarense: S.Jackson 28+8reb, W.Antonio 12+2reb+4ast, H.Jay 8+6reb+1ast, J.Jalen 6+4reb+1ast, M.Miguel 6+1ast, T.Gustavo 5+8reb+4ast
Imortal: K.Kennedy 20+6reb+1ast, K.Cardaci 18+7reb+4ast, A.Silva 13+1ast, S.Luis 7+3reb, R.Jones 6+10reb+2ast, S.Victo 4+1reb+1ast

Queluz - Benfica 80-101

The game between Top Four teams took place in Queluz. 3rd placed host Queluz (3-2) was smashed by leader Benfica (5-0) 101-80. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Queluz. They outrebounded Queluz 42-28 including a 28-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. Benfica looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The best player for the winners was American guard Geno Crandall (191-1996, college: Gonzaga) who scored 21 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists and 5 steals. The former international Betinho Gomes (201-1985) chipped in 19 points (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). Benfica's coach Norberto Alves felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American swingman Dericko Williams (201-1999, college: ECSU, agency: Players Group) produced 25 points and the other American import point guard Michael Bradley (185-2000, college: NKU) added 14 points, 10 assists and 4 steals respectively for the hosts. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Benfica have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 5-0 record. Loser Queluz dropped to the fourth position with two games lost. They share it with 3 other teams. Benfica will meet at home FC Porto (#6) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Queluz will play against Vasco da Gama in Porto and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Benfica: C.Geno 21+7reb+9ast, G.Betinho 19+4reb+1ast, M.Koby 14+2reb+2ast, S.Justice 11+6reb+2ast, Y.Temidayo 9+7reb, G.Diogo 9+3reb+2ast
Queluz: D.Williams 25+3reb, M.Bradley 14+1reb+10ast, J.Simmons 13+3reb+4ast, W.Robinson 10+6reb, J.Dixon 10+1reb, D.Wade 5+4reb+2ast

Galitos-Barreiro - Sporting 86-127

Very predictable result when third ranked Sporting (4-1) smashed on the road bottom-ranked Galitos-Barreiro (0-5) 127-86 on Sunday. Sporting made 24-of-30 free shots (80.0 percent) during the game. Sporting outrebounded Galitos-Barreiro 49-21 including a 17-4 advantage in offensive rebounds. Sporting looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists. The best player for the winners was American forward Brandon Johns Jr (203-1999, college: VCU) who had a double-double by scoring 17 points and 11 rebounds. His fellow American import forward Robby Robinson III (203-1999, college: CSUSB) chipped in 19 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. French guard Quentin Diboundje-Eyobo (196-2002, college: URI, agency: Starting 5) produced 26 points and 6 rebounds and American forward Brayden Carter (206, college: MSU Denver, agency: Origins Sports Group) added 21 points and 6 rebounds respectively for the hosts. Five Sporting and four Galitos-Barreiro players scored in double figures. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. The victory was the third consecutive win for Sporting. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Ovarense. Galitos-Barreiro lost their fifth game in a row. They still close the standings with five games lost. They share the position with Vitoria SC. Sporting will meet at home Braga (#7) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Galitos-Barreiro will play against Imortal (#8) in Albufeira and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Sporting: R.Robby 19+5reb+7ast, J.Brandon 17+11reb+3ast, S.Swenson 16+1reb+3ast, M.Malik 16+2reb+2ast, V.Diogo 13+3reb+5ast, P.Rui 13+8reb
Galitos-Barreiro: Q.Diboundje-Eyobo 26+6reb+2ast, B.Carter 21+6reb+3ast, R.Diogo 13+2reb+2ast, K.Courseault 10+2reb+5ast, K.Leslie 9+3reb+1ast, L.Bernardo 3+3ast

Esgueira - Vasco da Gama 107-103

Not a big story in a game when 10th ranked Vasco da Gama (1-4) was defeated on the road by seventh ranked Esgueira (3-2) 107-103 on Sunday. Esgueira looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was Latrell Reid who had a double-double by scoring 30 points, 5 rebounds and 15 assists. American forward Malik Porter (196-1999, college: Idaho St., agency: Starting 5) chipped in a double-double by scoring 21 points and 12 rebounds (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field). American forward Brandon Johns Jr (203-1999, college: VCU) produced a double-double by scoring 19 points and 12 rebounds and his fellow the other American import import forward Robby Robinson III (203-1999, college: CSUSB) added 19 points and 8 rebounds respectively for the guests. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Esgueira moved-up to fourth place, which they share with 3 other teams. Newly promoted Vasco da Gama keeps the tenth position with four games lost. Esgueira will meet Oliveirense (#9) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Vasco da Gama will play against Queluz and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Esgueira: L.Reid 30+5reb+15ast, N.Bilamu 22+7reb+2ast, P.Malik 21+12reb+3ast, D.Barnstable 18+6reb+1ast, T.Andrade 8+4reb+1ast, T.Bol 4+1reb
Vasco da Gama: Y.Akoi 19+12reb+1ast, C.Sean 19+8reb+3ast, A.Felizardo 16+7reb+4ast, L.Lindsey 12+7reb, F.Ferreira 11+2reb+3ast, C.Ivo 9+1ast