BRA/ARG - Franca dominate, end Ben Hur title defence

SAO PAULO (Liga Sudamericana) - Brazil's Franca eliminated defending Liga Sudamericana champions Ben Hur of Argentina with a 78-63 victory in a Game Three semi-final decider.

Playing before a packed crowd of 7,000, Franca rolled to victory, sparked by Matheus’ 19 points.

Franca's Rogerio weighed in with 15 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

William McFarlan scored 20 in a losing cause.

Now Franca will take on another Argentinian side, Libertad from Sunchales, in the best-of-five finals.

“It’s a dream, a big target that we had,” said Franca coach Helio Rubens.

“Now we will fight for the title against a very good team. We can’t relax.”

Franca are not first-time finalists in this competition.

They reached the title series in 1998, when the team from Sao Paulo lost Atenas from Cordoba - another Argentina team.

FIBA