Three titles within the final three seasons and a document of 30 championships, 18 greater than the crew that comes earlier than us. That is what Benfica did – and continues to be doing – to win, this Monday, the 2023-24 nationwide basketball championship.
In opposition to FC Porto, which has 12 titles, the ultimate closed with 83-76, on the Luz Pavilion, ending the perfect of 5 collection video games 3-0. Porto’s crew was much more constant throughout the common season, however Benfica, who did not even begin effectively, have been on the street to a terrific finish to the season, holding tempo with their rival since 2016.
All this was potential as a result of particular person high quality of the “purple” athletes, which is superior to that of FC Porto by way of squad depth, however it can’t be disconnected from the “Midas Contact” of coach Norberto Alves.
Norberto Alves was on the bench for 5 of the final six nationwide champions – 3 times for Benfica, twice for Oliveirense. In the meantime, solely Sporting interrupted the management of the 56-year-old coach, who continues to “take care” of the Portuguese League.
This Monday, nonetheless, the third sport was of a special type than the primary two. FC Porto improved its efficiency considerably and there was nice publicity for basketball, with a wealthy sport at a person and collective stage – in addition to steadiness and feelings till the top.
At this stage of the sport, it was the “outdated males” Betinho, 39 years outdated, and Douglas, 38 years outdated (with NBA expertise), who stored Benfica again from successful the championship.
Various extra
Within the Luz pavilion stuffed with 2,400 folks, the sport began with some success from FC Porto in lengthy throws, particularly as a result of lack of response given to the free man. The Porto crew have been making good oblique blocks of the ball and Benfica took some time to adapt to that.
On the “purple” aspect there was an excessive amount of concentrate on isolation, which FC Porto managed by effectively measuring two-on-one moments, in addition to forcing much less technically gifted gamers to dribble on the bottom.
The Porto aspect went into the primary cease successful by 5 factors, however Douglas’s good type within the second quarter gave Benfica a special power to defend.
Douglas got here ahead strongly and the protection began to “squeeze” the Porto midfielder Miguel Maria and this not solely put strain on the “proprietor of the ball” but in addition blocked the possibilities of the midfielder succeeding drop the ball, due to him. he at all times did so below strain. This led to the addition of FC Porto turnover and convey Benfica’s transition actions and numerical superiority.
Benfica additionally had extra moments the place they managed to activate Carter in inside areas, after an preliminary part the place they have been unable to make defensive exchanges for the place with a extra bodily fragile opponent – and once they did, FC Porto did effectively in two in opposition to. any.
The “purple” crew went into the break main 41-35, a bonus that might have been simply overturned by two good possessions of the ball – which occurred.
FC Porto, with an excellent protection and three profitable assaults in a row, turned the sport round and Norberto Alves began going to the bench to check options – and he might do this, as a result of the depth of the squad permits that’s, particularly when it is FC Porto’s. aspect.
Betinho and Douglas have been on
A few of Benfica’s most outstanding gamers weren’t “each different day” and this manifested itself in one thing simpler to elucidate than complicated tactical variations: at this level it was, fully and easily, about the correct shot.
Benfica’s crew wasn’t essentially creating dangerous taking pictures conditions, however FC Porto have been utilizing it much more. The sport was even and the distinction of 5 factors in favor of FC Porto lasted till the final quarter.
Benfica got here to the ultimate minutes with Broussard and Douglas on the sector on the identical time and managed to lure FC Porto gamers in direct blocks. This created favorable taking pictures conditions in areas nearer to the basket.
The skilled Douglas, with an NBA background, was already necessary in protection and got here to the final quarter to dominate the sport in assault, typically in particular person isolation performs, typically in post-block penetration.
With Benfica down by 5 – and the pavilion roaring -, Douglas and Carter performed a two-on-one sport simply outdoors midfield and compelled FC Porto right into a foul, taking the “breath of the dragons” .
With a distinction of 4 factors, FC Porto might cut back it to 2 within the transition, however Carter, with 4 lies, got here “out of nowhere” for an enormous “shutdown”. This second might have been basic to stop the third championship and never solely was it not, however Betinho “completed the sport” quickly after, with a triple.
Betinho and Douglas used their huge expertise of virtually 40 years every to assist the crew within the last levels, in protection and assault.
On a person stage, Douglas and Carter, with three steals every, have been important within the protection, and within the assault Broussard, with 21 factors, and Drechsel, with 23, having added six rebounds to the 2 most efficient ones. At FC Porto, Omlid, with 24 factors and 7 rebounds, contributed essentially the most.