Rasta Vechta has secured victory in yet another closely fought match in the Basketball Champions League qualifiers. The German side prevailed 98–88 against Benfica in Samakov, Bulgaria.
The Lower Saxony side were still trailing by nine points at the start of the fourth quarter, but Vechta fought their way back into the game. With just over four minutes remaining, the BBL club regained the lead following a fast break by centre Lars Thiemann and held on to it until the final whistle. This was secured by a 13–0 run over a good four minutes, capped off by a three-pointer from Justin Edler-Davis.
Thiemann put in an impressive performance. Vechta’s standout player was playmaker Tommy Kuhse, who led his side with 27 points and six assists. Thiemann also impressed with a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds; in the previous round, his fellow centre Tibor Pleiß had shone with 25 points.
Kuhse, meanwhile, was the only player to sink three-pointers; the rest of the Vechtas squad managed a meagre 6 out of 27 from distance. It was enough nonetheless, as Benfica didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory either. For the Portuguese side, Geno Crandall (18, 7 assists), who has BBL experience, was the best player on the court.
Following their victory over Yukatel Denizli Basket and now Lisbon, Vechta now need just two more wins to secure qualification for the Champions League. The next match is on Saturday at 7.30 pm against Greek side Promitheas Patras; in the final, they would face either Dziki Warsaw or Rio Breogan. Should Vechta fail to qualify, Rasta will compete in the group stage of the FIBA Europe Cup.