SL Benfica dethrone FC Porto to complete triple crown in Portugal

LISBON (Portuguese Basketball League) – After coming away with two wins on the road in Porto, SL Benfica finished off the Portuguese Basketball League season in sweeping fashion, reconquering the championship crown from main rivals FC Porto.

The Eagles, who also enjoyed a longer run in the FIBA Europe Cup this season, concluded the 3-0 display in the series with a one-sided 87-57 victory at the Pavilhao Fidelidade in Game 3 to clinch the side's 27th national title.

Carlos Morais led Benfica in scoring with 17 points, Damian Hollis chipped in with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, while Raven Barber earned the Finals MVP award after another double-double, finishing the game with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

"No athlete, player or even sports agent can ever be tired of winning. This season, we had more successes than failures. We were able to become champions again and return the title to Benfica," said the team's head coach Carlos Lisboa, a living legend at the club.

Meanwhile, Sasa Borovnjak scored 17 points for Porto, with Miguel Miranda and Nick Washburn adding 11 points apiece in a losing effort.

"We won everything there was to win this year except for the Super Cup. We captured the League Cup, the Portuguese Cup and now the championship, all because of the team’s attitude and hard work."Carlos LisboaCarlos Lisboa

Losing out on the title to Porto was a tough pill to swallow for Benfica last year, but the Eagles got revenge by winning seven of nine head-to-head meetings this season and reeling home three trophies.

"We are the deserved champions. "We won everything there was to win this year except for the Super Cup. We captured the League Cup, the Portuguese Cup and now the Championship, all because of the team's attitude and hard work," coach Lisboa reflected.

While Porto did not finish the season completely empty-handed, claiming the Super Cup in the early stages of the campaign, the team's playcaller Mucho Lopez was disappointed with how things went downhill from there.

"We aren't satisfied with the result and we are aware that we have not been playing up to the desired Porto standard. Simply put, we couldn't compete this year. We have to face up to our failures," he said after the final defeat of the season.

Of the two Portuguese teams, Benfica found more success in Europe than their rivals as well, with the Eagles reaching the Second Round in the FIBA Europe Cup, while Porto's international campaign ended already after the Regular Season.

FIBA