Petro de Luanda Escape Nailer-Biter to Advance to the Final Four, 66-65

Petro de Luanda Escape Nailer-Biter to Advance to the Final Four, 66-65

After a bitter defeat in their last playoff meeting, Petro de Luanda entered the court with a fire in their hearts. As the reigning Angolan champions, they were resolute in their determination not to miss the continental rendezvous again.

This year, Carlos Morais and his teammates had to overcome Senegalese club AS Douanes to achieve their goal. AS Douanes, who qualified second in the Sahara Conference behind Rivers Hoopers, hoped to surpass their performance as finalists in the third season of the BAL.

From the outset, Petro de Luanda took the lead with intense play and excellent defence, winning the first quarter 13-8. In the second quarter, they extended their lead by ten points (20-10) and went into halftime with a narrow three-point advantage (28-25).

The Angolan club capitalized on its bench, contributing thirteen points and taking advantage of second-chance opportunities under the basket. However, despite the halftime score, neither team seemed to find their rhythm on offence.

At the start of the third quarter, AS Douanes quickly levelled the score at 28-28 and then took a two-point lead (30-28) for the first time in the match. Jean Jacques Boissy's outstanding outside shooting, which contributed six points and 23 for the game, helped the Senegalese club take a 49-42 lead with two minutes remaining in the third quarter. By the end of the period, AS Douanes had extended their lead to fourteen points.

In the final quarter, Petro, needing to be more attentive to loose balls, had to step up. Despite Jean Jacques Boissy's continued dominance, scoring 27 points, Petro seemed lost as they faced a twenty-point deficit (62-42). However, in a twist of fate, they managed a remarkable comeback, closing the gap to five points, then three, with a minute left to play. They eventually drew level at 64-64.

With 38 seconds remaining, everything was up for grabs. Petro de Luanda, now leading by one point (66-65) with eight seconds left on the clock, held their breath. In a heart-stopping finish, they managed to hold on to this narrow lead until the end, securing their spot in the semi-finals.