Basket Willebroek gets huge first victory over CB Liège

What a way for newcomer Basket Willebroek to start off their campaign in Top Division Men One. Willebroek came out on top of title contender CB Liège: 102-97.

It was a matchup that drew all the attention of the opening round. The new-look and improved CB Liège, who started a new project to get Liège back on the basketball map, versus the evenly highly ambitious Basket Willebroek, who promoted from Top Division Men Two, but added some big names to the mix.

Liège managed to keep Maxime De Zeeuw (133 caps with the Belgian Lions) aboard, together with Clément Matisse (one of the MVP's of last season) and Ioann Iarochevitch among others. Olivier Troisfontaines (former Player of the Year) joined the mix, along with Mathis Bizimana, Martin Balthazar and some young talents.

Basket Willebroek kept some of the core of the TDM2 title with Ruben Luyten, Max Gysbrechts, Bowie Lenaerts, Tom Ackermans and Bryan Van Sande among others. They added some high quality transfers to get the team to the next level. Terry Deroover, the high-scoring point guard, came over from BNXT-team Brussels. Amaury Marion left Royal IV after a lot of years and Arno Mollekens brings the hustle, coming over from Gembo Borgerhout. Fourth newcomer Lucien Sissoko suffered a terrible ACL-injury in August, so he will miss a big chunk of the season.

Game Story

After winning the game tip, it was visiting side CB Liège who stormed out of the gate, despite Matisse sitting out because of injury. Troisfontaiens scored the forst 5 points of the game, but Willebroek had an initial reaction in store. Afterwards the Walloon team raced away, hoping to already secure a big first half lead. Through Kai Hawley & Iarochevitch they secured a 18-28 lead after 1.

Willebroek then placed a 11-2 run via Ackermans & Marion, making it 29-30. Timely buckets by Deroover kept Willebroek even with Liège and then Ruben Luyten got hot, hitting 4 triples in the second quarter. Willebroek could go to the break with a 53-50 lead.

After the break Willebroek had some trouble with the ever-active Mathis Bizimana, who controlled the glass. Arno Mollekens gave the home side a 6 point lead at 66-60, but Bizimana and De Zeeuw answered for Liège: 70-71. The bench for Willebroek reacted and through Gysbrechts & Van Sande, the score evolved to 77-74.

The fourth quarter went back and forth to start with, but Liège went scoreless for some minutes halfway in the 4th and Willebroek benefited with a run, leading to 89-81. Maxime De Zeeuw showed his experience and quickly the visitors got back to 92-91 with two minutes to go. A crazy Deroover 3 and two free throws by 'Scary Terry' meant 97-93. Liège couldn't answer anymore and in the last minutes, Willebroek could secure the first victory of the season.

It sure promises to be a spectacular season in TDM1!

Willebroek:

Deroover 20, Gysbrechts 12, Luyten 17, Van Sande 6, Lenaerts 2, Ackermans 15, Marion 17, Baetens 2, Mollekens 11

Liège:

Troisfontaines 23, Bizimana 27, Bodson 8, Matisse, Iarochevitch 14, De Zeeuw 14, Balthazar, Hawley 11, Mathy