Liga Sudamericana Semi Finals Group E Full Report
- Nov 11, 2017
- 3 min read
It's crunch time in the 2017 Liga Sudamericana - four teams face off against each other over three days in the first semi final of the tournament, with only room for the best team in the final.
The first of the semi finals took place in Rio de Janeiro, the home city of Flamengo, one of two Brazilian teams in the group along with Pinheiros. Joining them were Estudiantes Concordia from Argentina and the Olimpia Kings, looking to continue their hot streak against some formidable opponents.
Image: FIBA.com
After a close first quarter in game one, Pinheiros looked to stamp their authority over Concordia with some good field shooting, particularly from Cordero Bennet and Desmond Holloway, who finished as the team’s top scorer with 18 points. In the second half, however, greater shooting accuracy from Concordia prevailed. All players who took to the court made the score sheet, and as a unit they made half their shots from close range. It remained tight to the end, but Concordia maintained a comfortable buffer to take the first win of the semi finals, 71 to 68.
In the game following this it was all Flamengo in the first half, who led Olimpia 48 points to 40 at the half, doing well to box out their opponents behind key defence man Joao Paulo Batista, who would finish with a game-high 14 rebounds. In the second half, though, Olimpia took over, and by the fourth quarter they had clawed themselves into the lead.
Though the Paraguayans led by eight points, a late surge from Flamengo saw them narrow it down to a two point game, but three missed shots from the Brazilians in the final seconds of play would cost them the game. Rashaun Freeman had a double-double, 22 points and 10 rebounds, as Olimpia’s unbeaten streak in the competition continues as they win over Flamengo by a single basket.
Pinheiros and Flamengo were evenly matched in the first game of day two: both handled the ball to perfection, executed great inside plays and their shooters were spot-on from three-point territory. Marquinhos Vieira for Flamengo helped to lift the team after they fell ten points early on, his long range shooting keeping the game was tight going down to the wire, where a few decisive plays from Pinheiros would give them the edge they needed to score their first win of the group.
In the following game, Olimpia came out of the gate firing on all cylinders against Concordia, dominating possession and chalking up a lead as high as six points in the first quarter. Concordia got back into the game thanks to good team organisation, with everyone doing well to find open players with the best looks on the court.
Composed play and shooting from Olimpia saw them keep their lead alive, until three minutes until the end of the third quarter when Leonardo Vildoza made a three-pointer to give Concordia their first lead of the game, which Olimpia equalized with a minute left in the game. Concordia remained cool under pressure, though, and made crucial last-minute baskets to seal the deal and book their place in the Liga Sudamericana final with a game to spare.
On the final day of play, spectacular three-point shooting from Pinheiros in the first quarter gave them a huge first lead over Olimpia, who looked to get back into the game as the game went on, but they could not stop their opponents from scoring. Desmond Holloway of Pinheiros was the biggest stand-out in this game, thoroughly impressive on the fast break, from long range and also adding plenty of dunks to his highlight package. His 25 points helped Pinheiros to a huge win, 106-70, over Olimpia.
Meanwhile, Concordia kept finding the basket, but Flamengo seemed the more confidet and composed side, dispalying flawless shooting, alert defence and speed on the fast break. However, in true Concordia style, they held their nerve and managed to tighten the gap as the game went into Q4, but that hardly seemed to bother Flamengo, who continued to knock down open looks and kept piling on the points to the end. The disappointment ended here for Flamengo as they secured a 89-75 consolation win over Concordia.
Winning the group, Estudiantes Concordia advance to the final and will face the winner of Group F, which will take place in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, on November 14th. For more on the tournament and each of the games, head over to the official website.
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