Esgueira's dream comes to an end
Esgueira/Aveiro, after losing at home by 73-80 in “game 1” of the final, needed a victory in Lisbon to be able to fight for the title of national champion in front of its fans. Unfortunately for its fans and for Aveiro basketball, this was not possible. It is true that, in a game in which they were practically always at a disadvantage on the scoreboard (they were losing by 16 with six minutes to go and by eight with 50 seconds to go), they still managed, in a truly incredible way and to the general surprise of the large crowd present at the Pavilhão Fidelidade, to take the game to extra time, but, in the extra five minutes, they ended up losing by just three points (78-75), not preventing Benfica, a season later, from celebrating the national championship title once again. Ultimately, Esgueira said goodbye to the 2024/2025 season in the same way it has always performed on the pitch throughout the season, that is, it always believed and fought until the end for something that few would have imagined possible at the start of the championship. The title narrowly escaped, but history will be remembered for a truly exceptional performance by the team led by André Janicas. In yesterday's game, Benfica were indeed better in the first three quarters. After some advantage in the first, the "reds", stronger in rebounds and with Mariana Silva and Raphaella Monteiro standing out, fully justified their 13-point advantage at half-time (42-29). After the break, the game continued to go well for the Lisbon team throughout the third quarter (58-42). So it was surprising how Esgueira, full of belief, forced Benfica to play extra time. Despite all the praise that the Aveiro team deserves, it is also fair to say that, in the end, the team with the best individual players and more options in terms of squad ended up winning. A question of money, of course.
Benfica, which has Inês Faustino and Inês Viana on its roster, players trained at Esgueira and Sanjoanense, respectively, are to be congratulated for winning back the title, but Esgueira also deserves high praise because it was, without a doubt, the great sensation of Portuguese women's basketball in the 2024/2025 season.
Esgueira/Aveiro, after losing at home by 73-80 in “game 1” of the final, needed a victory in Lisbon to be able to fight for the title of national champion in front of its fans. Unfortunately for its fans and for Aveiro basketball, this was not possible. It is true that, in a game in which they were practically always at a disadvantage on the scoreboard (they were losing by 16 with six minutes to go and by eight with 50 seconds to go), they still managed, in a truly incredible way and to the general surprise of the large crowd present at the Pavilhão Fidelidade, to take the game to extra time, but, in the extra five minutes, they ended up losing by just three points (78-75), not preventing Benfica, a season later, from celebrating the national championship title once again. Ultimately, Esgueira said goodbye to the 2024/2025 season in the same way it has always performed on the pitch throughout the season, that is, it always believed and fought until the end for something that few would have imagined possible at the start of the championship. The title narrowly escaped, but history will be remembered for a truly exceptional performance by the team led by André Janicas. In yesterday's game, Benfica were indeed better in the first three quarters. After some advantage in the first, the "reds", stronger in rebounds and with Mariana Silva and Raphaella Monteiro standing out, fully justified their 13-point advantage at half-time (42-29). After the break, the game continued to go well for the Lisbon team throughout the third quarter (58-42). So it was surprising how Esgueira, full of belief, forced Benfica to play extra time. Despite all the praise that the Aveiro team deserves, it is also fair to say that, in the end, the team with the best individual players and more options in terms of squad ended up winning. A question of money, of course.
Benfica, which has Inês Faustino and Inês Viana on its roster, players trained at Esgueira and Sanjoanense, respectively, are to be congratulated for winning back the title, but Esgueira also deserves high praise because it was, without a doubt, the great sensation of Portuguese women's basketball in the 2024/2025 season.
Esgueira/Aveiro, after losing at home by 73-80 in “game 1” of the final, needed a victory in Lisbon to be able to fight for the title of national champion in front of its fans. Unfortunately for its fans and for Aveiro basketball, this was not possible. It is true that, in a game in which they were practically always at a disadvantage on the scoreboard (they were losing by 16 with six minutes to go and by eight with 50 seconds to go), they still managed, in a truly incredible way and to the general surprise of the large crowd present at the Pavilhão Fidelidade, to take the game to extra time, but, in the extra five minutes, they ended up losing by just three points (78-75), not preventing Benfica, a season later, from celebrating the national championship title once again. Ultimately, Esgueira said goodbye to the 2024/2025 season in the same way it has always performed on the pitch throughout the season, that is, it always believed and fought until the end for something that few would have imagined possible at the start of the championship. The title narrowly escaped, but history will be remembered for a truly exceptional performance by the team led by André Janicas. In yesterday's game, Benfica were indeed better in the first three quarters. After some advantage in the first, the "reds", stronger in rebounds and with Mariana Silva and Raphaella Monteiro standing out, fully justified their 13-point advantage at half-time (42-29). After the break, the game continued to go well for the Lisbon team throughout the third quarter (58-42). So it was surprising how Esgueira, full of belief, forced Benfica to play extra time. Despite all the praise that the Aveiro team deserves, it is also fair to say that, in the end, the team with the best individual players and more options in terms of squad ended up winning. A question of money, of course.
Benfica, which has Inês Faustino and Inês Viana on its roster, players trained at Esgueira and Sanjoanense, respectively, are to be congratulated for winning back the title, but Esgueira also deserves high praise because it was, without a doubt, the great sensation of Portuguese women's basketball in the 2024/2025 season.
Diario de Aveiro
