In a heart-stopping finale, Firas Lahyani's three-point buzzer beater lifted US Monastir to a 70-67 victory over Petro de Luanda on Saturday, capping off an incredible turnaround for the 2022 BAL winners. After starting the season with three consecutive losses, US Monastir has now won four of their last five games, including this thrilling win.
Lahyani's game-winning shot epitomized US Monastir's transformation since the Kalahari Conference on May 12. Patience, tenacity, self-belief, and determination were key factors in their three-point win. Petro de Luanda, on the other hand, learned a valuable lesson: a basketball game is never over until the final buzzer sounds.
Petro de Luanda led by eight points with just five minutes remaining, but US Monastir's 10-0 run flipped the script. An overtime seemed imminent until Lahyani's buzzer beater sealed the win. Despite both teams struggling from behind the arc (7-for-27), Lahyani capitalized on a wide-open opportunity to score the game-winner.
Lahyani led all scorers with 19 points, including 12 from beyond the arc, and narrowly missed a double-double. George Williams and Ater Majok also scored in double digits for US Monastir, with 12 and 17 points, respectively. Nicholas Faust led Petro de Luanda with 12 points off the bench, while Childe Dundao added 11 points.
US Monastir guard Oussama Marnaoui reflected on the win, saying, "It was a good way to start the Finals... We needed to start this game with confidence." He acknowledged the team's 0-3 start to the season but emphasized that they have since figured out their issues and are now showcasing their potential.
Nicholas Faust, meanwhile, acknowledged Petro de Luanda's defensive lapses and missed opportunities, stating, "We went back and forth... The last play was a defensive slip. Great job to Monastir, they did a great job executing down the stretch."
With this win, US Monastir improves to 4-3, while Petro de Luanda drops to 2-3. The thrilling match showcased the teams' resilience and determination, setting the stage for an exciting remainder of the season.
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