At Hubo Limburg United, Osun Osunniyi was injured on the bench again. He was honored as defensive player of the year before the game. Referee Nick Van den Broek received the referee of the year trophy from BNXT general manager Wim Van de Keere.
Penn guided his team to its first lead. Due to too many Limburg mistakes, Kangaroos took over (10-14). Loubry held on to the Mechelen lead. Kangaroos were better at rebounding and went further to 20-29. After two three-pointers from Hammonds and one from Delalieux, United took the lead again (33-32).
© Serge Minten
Ex-Limburg United player Yannick Dammen came on strong for Kangaroos. While United missed some open shots, Mechelen took advantage to take another small lead. The Limburgers came out of the dressing room too tame and the deficit increased to 49-57. Lesuisse brought his team within two points three times.
After Hammonds’ third bomb of the evening, the Limburgers finally took the lead again seven minutes before the end (69-68). Two three-pointers from Serron and two from Lesuisse, who again played a strong final quarter, put United on the road to the hard-fought victory: 85-78. The second match will take place in Mechelen on Friday.
QUARTERS: 20-29, 25-19 (45-48), 17-16 (62-64), 28-20.
HUBO LIMBURG UNITED: 34/69 shots (12/31×3), 10/16 vw, 34 rebounds, 26 errors, PENN 5+2, CALE 10+6, SERRON 4+9, DELALIEUX 9+3, CEYSSENS 0+0, Lesuisse 2+15, Van Ounsem 2+1, De Zeeuw 5+4, Leemans 2+0, Hammonds 6+5.
KANGAROOES MECHELEN: 28/51 shots (8/20×3), 20/29 vw, 32 rebounds, 20 errors, LOUBRY 7+2, MUKUBU 5+9, WHYTE 12+1, BRANDWIJK 2+11, LIGHTFOOT 9+6, Van Den Eynde 3+0, Peciukevicius 3+0, Checkers 7+0, Palinckx 0+7.
© Serge Minten
© Serge Minten
© Serge Minten