Sesi Franca open Quarterfinals series with road win

MONTEVIDEO (Uruguay) - Sesi Franca took care of Penarol 91-84 on the road in Game 1 of their Quarterfinals series in the Basketball Champions League Americas.

With the win, Sesi Franca are still unbeaten this season with a record of 7-0.

Of Sesi Franca's 25 points in the first quarter, 15 of them came from three-point. Their hot shooting continued in the second quarter, as half of their 48 points were from behind the arc, and they held a 10-point lead heading into the second half.

Sesi Franca opened up a 16-point lead through three quarters and eventually led by as many as 21 points. Penarol got as close as within 7 points in the final quarter, but Sesi Franca quickly stretched their lead back out to a comfortable margin and didn't allow Penarol to gain momentum.

Two players for Sesi Franca - Lucas Dias and David Jackson - reached the 20-point scoring mark. Dias recorded a double-double of a game-high 26 points and 10 rebounds, along with 4 steals and 2 assists on 9-of-16 shooting from the field and 4-of-8 from three-point.

The 27-year-old also had a 34 efficiency, which is tied for fourth highest in a game this season in the BCLA.

Jackson finished with 24 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists while shooting 8-of-10 from the field and 3-of-4 from three-point range.

Both Dias and Jackson had their season-high in points and the two also combined to make seven of the team's 14 total threes.

Lee Roberts and Robin Benzing were bright spots for Penarol, finishing with a team-high 23 points and 20 points, respectively. Benzing also made 4-of-10 three-pointers off the bench.

The series now heads to Franca, Brazil for Game 2 of the best-of-three series, with the Brazilians one win away from the Final 4. Game 2 will be played on Saturday March 11 at 20:00 local time.

FIBA