Basketball: Porto pull off comeback on road to the Champions 🏀 | OneFootball

Trailing by 19 points already in the third period, FC Porto's basketball team made a memorable comeback and won 79-83 in the quarter-finals of the Champions League qualification tournament. The Porto team eliminated the Hungarians from Falco Szombathely, regulars in this competition, and can now face the Swiss team Fribourg Olympic or the French team Elan Chalon on their path to the Champions League.

In Samokov, Bulgaria, where eight teams are competing for a spot among the European elite, the match started evenly (13-12 in the first six minutes), but Porto's attack lost clarity and Falco went on a 9-0 run in 90 seconds, moving to 22-12.

The blue and white team's struggles with outside shooting affected the team, and despite a partial recovery at the end of the second period, the Hungarians accelerated again, reaching halftime with a 15-point lead (48-33), supported by penetration and shots near the basket.

Revitalized after the break, FC Porto renewed their defensive intensity and gradually reduced a deficit that reached 19 points (59-40), with Javian Davis and Jhonathan Dunn standing out.

In the final period, the Dragons maintained their spirit and, after leveling at 70 with a corner three-pointer, Davis converted free throws that put Porto ahead (77-78). The American center remained inspired and was crucial against the Hungarian defense, confirming his status as MVP of the Portuguese League 2024/25 – 25 points in just 12 attempts.

The semi-final of the Champions League qualification tournament will take place on Tuesday at 12:15 PM, again at the SamElyon Arena and broadcasted by Porto Canal. Fribourg Olympic and Elan Chalon will face each other in the same venue starting at 2:30 PM this Sunday.

Referees: Ariadna Chueca (Spain), Gatis Salins (Latvia), and Martim Horozov (Bulgaria)

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.