Chasing 15, with that motto, BC Oostende started these play-offs. And that chase had to end in Ostend on Thursday evening. But the Antwerp Giants were also looking for revenge in the COREtec Dôme after their home defeat last Monday. And that became immediately clear.
The visitors got off to a better start and Ostend made too many mistakes in the team. That resulted in 16-22 after ten minutes. A six-point gap that also remained for the second kart. But just before half time, Melson provided a little more reassurance for BCO with a three-pointer. 33-36 at half time.
Three points that the home team still had to make up in the second half if they wanted to celebrate the title at home. But those three quickly became twelve, Ostend found it difficult to score and the Giants only continued to outrun.
The situation started to look almost hopeless for BCO, but things rebounded just in time in a swirling room. Sylla made it 53-59 with a quarter to go.
In the last quarter it was all or nothing for both teams. BCO for the title and Giants to have a chance at that title. It was a delicious quarter: the Giants went ahead first, BCO clawed back and at 1 minute 38 from the end, Ostend took the lead for the first time in this game. The COREtec Dôme went crazy.
In a nail-biting final minute, Ostend seemed to hold on, but a three-pointer by Cheeks in the very last seconds caused a deception at BCO. 69-70 and not yet a fifteenth consecutive title for the West Flemish, although a second chance awaits on Saturday evening in the Lotto Arena.
Then we get a fifth decisive match in this play-off final and it will be second time lucky for BCO, right?