OMM Newsroom
Ganja’s 69-67 victory over Sporting has received widespread coverage in Portuguese media. The Azerbaijani club secured its first win in the FIBA Europe Cup and handed the Lisbon side its first defeat in the tournament.
Portuguese media reviews
A Bola headlined its report: “Unrecognizable Sporting lose to a team that had never won in Europe.” The publication said Sporting made numerous mistakes in attack and failed to convert its chances. This allowed Ganja to score 23 points on fast breaks. The Azerbaijani club’s lead reached 13 points at one stage.
A Bola noted that Sporting had a chance to secure victory in the final seconds but missed its shot. Zerozero, meanwhile, described the win as the logical outcome of the game. The outlet identified head coach Murat Dikmen’s timeout in the second quarter as one of the turning points: after the break, Ganja increased its intensity on defense and on the boards.
According to Zerozero, Ganja regained the initiative in the third quarter with three consecutive three-pointers. Sport TV recalled that Sporting had arrived in Azerbaijan after three straight wins in the FIBA Europe Cup, but was unable to take the lead again after losing its advantage in the first quarter.
Standout players
Sport TV noted that Bakari Kamara recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Xavier Rhoades scored 18 and Kobe McGee added 15. The broadcaster wrote of the American players’ performance: “They deserved this win.”
Focusing on the final possession, Leonino said Sporting had let everything slip away and suffered its first defeat in Europe. As a result, the Lisbon club also lost its lead in Group C. Portuguese media reviews stressed that Ganja not only capitalized on its opponent’s mistakes but also imposed its own game.
