Union Neuchâtel is in good shape! The Riveraine club dominated Lugano 107-103 after overtime last Wednesday night in the Swiss Basketball League. Four days after crushing Ticino in the quarter-finals of the Swiss Cup, Mitar Trivunovic’s men won the championship again. On the Ticino floor, however, the Unionists had to fight to the end to win.
Paid leave
Wednesday night, Mitar Trivunovic’s men can count on an excellent start to the match. Hardworking and confident, they closed the first quarter with a ten-point advantage (28-18). A lead preserved in Neuchâtelois until the start of the last period (67-61).
A poignant finish to the match
But in the last quarter, the people of Neuchâtel had to face the explosion of pride of the people of Ticino. Led by Javontae Hopkins of great evenings (45 points!), the locals completely returned to the game until they led 87-83 two minutes from the final buzzer. A lead that the Unionists had the strength to overcome to take it all into overtime.
In this extra time, Union Neuchâtel was lucky to rely on American top scorer Russell Jones and his 29 points scored on Wednesday to make a final and decisive difference in this exciting meeting.
In the standings, the Riveraine club took advantage of this success to consolidate its fourth place and return to just two points behind Pully-Lausanne, 3rd. /gjo
The ranking of the Swiss Basketball League