Belgian League playoffs, Quarterfinals, Game 2: May 15, 2008
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There will be a new champion in the Belgian League after Generali Okapi Aalstar eliminated defending champion Telindus Oostende in the quarterfinals on Thursday. Aalstar scored an 80-76 overtime win over Oostende to sweep the best-of-three series. Meanwhile Dexia Mons-Hainaut edged Belgacom Liege Basket on the road 84-86 to set up the semifinals, where regular season champ Basket Bree will meet Mons and Spirou Basket Charleroi faces Aalstar. On Thursday, Aalstar started strong and behind Loren Stokes led by double figures early in the second period. The lead reached 19 before a Sam Van Rossom layup cut it to 42-27 by halftime. Jerry Green and Greg Brunner kept the visitors in the picture for much of the third quarter. Late in the period, the two ignited a surprising 0-17 charge that seemed to put Oostende in the driver’s seat with a 58-64 lead. Green scored 8 and Brunner 6 in that run. After Trevor Huffman gave Aalstar a late 69-68 lead with a three-point play, Green was fouled and went to the line in the final seconds with a chance to win it. However he made only 1 and the game went to overtime. In the extra period, Oostende’s offense went cold and Aalstar took advantage to grab the game and the series. Stokes led the way with a season-high 25 points and Damian Cantrell posted 18 points and 15 rebounds. Green scored 19, Brunner 17 and Van Rossom 14 for Oostende in defeat. In the other game, back-to-back three-pointers by Nate Reinking and Mike Lenzly in the closing minutes gave Mons the lead for good and then Reinking iced the game from the line to finish that series. Reinking and Lenzly were their team’s top scorers with 15 points apiece.
| Qualifying Round Playoffs, best of 3 games |
| Record | Team | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | | 0 | Telindus BC Oostende (3) | 71 | 76 | x | | 2 | Generali Okapi Aalstar (6) | 79 | 80 | x | | 2 | Dexia Mons-Hainaut (4) | 83 | 86 | x | | 0 | Belgacom Liège Basket (5) | 75 | 84 | x |
| Qualifying Round games | | Game 1 | BC Oostende vs. Aalstar | 71-79 | May 13 | | Game 1 | Dexia Mons vs. Belgacom Liège | 83-75 | May 13 | | Game 2 | Aalstar vs. BC Oostende | 80-76 | May 15 | | Game 2 | Belgacom Liège vs. Dexia Mons | 84-86 | May 15 |
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