Benfica started Group F of the Basketball Champions League this Tuesday with a valuable victory (89-76) in the visit to VEF Riga, from Latvia, a historic feat that adds to what was already the debut in the competition.
Without pressure against a rival who started as favourites, Norberto Alves’ team was very consistent and did not waver, even when even trailing by nine points in the first period, which ended 27-25 for the locals, after a final partial of 10-3 in the recovery of Lisbon.
The champion of the joint championship of Latvia and Estonia. felt much more difficulties in the second halfsince Benfica, much more solid defensively, conceded just 11 points, a fact that helped them go into the break with a four-point lead (48-42).
The locals were clearly superior in rebounding (21-14), but the Portuguese led in all other aspects of the challenge.
The initial phase of the third half was one of the most complicated for the Portuguesewith a 16-7 run that put Riga five points ahead (54-49), but Benfica soon showed its best version and with a 22-11 response, supported by a strong away game, gave the return to the match until 65-71 in their favor.
In the fourth half, the locals seemed to feel the pressure of the home factor against an increasingly confident and personalized Benfica, who took the lead to double digits with 65-76 (11 points), which they controlled until the end.
Toney Douglas stood out for Benfica, with 17 points, four rebounds, seven assists and two tackles, while Nysier Brooks still fueled the Latvian hopes with 20 points and seven rebounds.
Benfica, 71st in the competition ranking, beat 23rd at home, in a Group F that also includes BAXI Manresa (10th), from Spain, and Limoges (46th), from France, the former going directly to the round of 16 to the final and the second and third to the play-inns to access that phase.
The Champions League group stage has 32 teams, divided into eight groups of four, with only the last-placed teams from each being excluded from the competition.
Source: Observadora
