Telenet Oostende's reign continues in Belgium
BRUSSELS (Belgian EuroMillions Basketball League) – There was no stopping Telenet Oostende in the Belgian EuroMillions Basketball League for the sixth season in a row, as Dario Gjergja's side inscribed yet another championship title after defeating Brussels Basketball in the Finals.
After missing their chance at a sweep over the weekend, the team from Ostend finally put the lid on the season on Wednesday by registering a 77-64 road victory in Game 4 to close out the series 3-1.
😱@BCOOSTENDE become EMBL Champs for the 6th time in a row!! #EMBLFINALS Congratulations to @BrusselsBasket5 also with their huge season!! pic.twitter.com/XcwhfcaDIo
— EuroMillions Basket (@EuroMillionsBL) June 14, 2017
The defending champions had their opponents on the ropes already by the end of the first quarter, gaining a 25-8 advantage in the opening period. In spite of a second-half comeback by Brussels, Telenet Oostende held on thanks to their superior start.
"That was phenomenal," said coach Gjergja. "We expected a comeback from Brussels. At the halftime break, I asked my players to keep the same level of defensive intensity. Ultimately, it was our defense that decided the game."
It was the usual suspects doing most of the work for Telenet Oostende, with Dusan Djordjevic, later named Finals MVP, finishing the game with 17 points and 3 assists, and Rasko Katic chipping in with 15 points and 4 rebounds.
Einde Q3. @BrusselsBasket5 vs @BCOOSTENDE : 44-57. #welovebco #6PACK #EMBLplayoffs pic.twitter.com/U1Wxy4Yoie
— BC Telenet Oostende (@BCOOSTENDE) June 14, 2017
On the other side, Chris Dowe and Jeremy Simmons collected 15 and 11 points respectively for Brussels Basketball, who had become the darlings of the post-season in Belgium, reaching the Finals for the first time in the club's history.
"We had to use a lot of energy to get back into the game, but Djordjevic took over the game at the end. I have no regrets, although we did have a shot at winning Game 2 of the Finals. Nevertheless, we can be proud of our season," said Brussels coach Serge Crevecoeur, praising his side for the effort.
The know-how of the experienced Ostend side, who celebrated the club's 18th title overall, was simply too much to handle for the on-the-rise Brussels side, who still threw a commendable challenge in spite of being the new name on the block, when it comes to battling for medal positions.
Telenet Oostende playcaller Gjergja extended his winning streak in the Belgian championship, having claimed the league crown in every single season since joining the club in 2011. With six domestic titles to his name, the 41-year-old Croatian coach could be in store for even more in the coming years, having penned a four-year extension with the Belgian champs earlier in the season.
This year they also came mightily close to their first-ever European trophy, reaching the Semi-Finals in the FIBA Europe Cup, where they were eliminated by Elan Chalon. Brussels Basketball also took part in the competition, but could not advance past the Regular Season in their maiden international campaign.
FIBA