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Beirut SC and La Sagesse met in the semi-finals of the Lebanese basketball championship on Friday evening. While a win for La Sagesse would see them through to the final, Beirut SC aimed to force a fifth game at home.
La Sagesse won 80-76 after a tough game, and qualified for the final against Riyadi or Homenetmen.
Beirut SC coach Joe Ghattas chose his usual starting five of Dar Tucker, Jonathan Hamilton, Ali Haidar, Ali Mezher and Sergio Darwiche. La Sagesse’s Jad el-Hajj, meanwhile, has selected Jonathan Gibson, Karim Ezzeddine, Ahmad Ibrahim, Omar Jamaleddine and Nick Rakocevic.
Fast start
Both teams started the match strongly, not letting their opponents get the better of them. While the score remained tight for most of the first quarter, Beirut SC found themselves on a 7-0 run, which gave them a crucial 9-point lead. The quarter ended 23-17 to the away team, who got off to a good start, leaving their opponents with a conversion rate of just 22%.
Early in the second quarter, La Sagesse cut into Beirut SC’s lead, which demanded a quick response from the away team. After a sequence involving a block on the defensive end and a dunk on the other end, La Sagesse took the lead, swinging the momentum in their favor. The green team increased their lead to 3 points, keeping the game close. The second quarter ended 44-43 to La Sagesse, in a first half that showed two equally competitive teams.
The second half began in the home team’s favor, with Ahmad Ibrahim increasing La Sagesse’s lead to 7 points. Midway through the quarter, Gibson scored a three-pointer while being fouled, converting a 4-point play for the home team. Their lead was 11 points at that point. However, their lead didn’t last long, as Beirut SC quickly came back towards the end of the quarter, thanks to some organized play. The quarter ended 64-63 to Beirut SC.
After a rollercoaster of a third quarter, Beirut SC’s sole objective was to extend their lead in order to secure a hard-won victory on rival territory. For most of the quarter, the score remained tight, with 2 or no points separating the two teams. With the score at 72-72, Beirut SC’s Ali Mahmoud converted a crucial 4-point play, while Gibson responded with a 3 at the other end. The home team then made some tough baskets and stayed put on defense. The game ended 80-76 for La Sagesse.
The home team has now qualified for the final of the Lebanese basketball championship. They will play either al Riyadi or Homenetmen, with all Riyadi already leading the series 2-0. Their match will be played on Saturday.