LDP Donza grabs back-to-back title in TDM1

For the second year in a row, ABO LDP Donza has captured the title in Top Division Men One. In the third and decisive game, Donza was too strong for Guco Lier: 57-77.

ABO LDP Donza has done a quite rare feat in Top Division Men One, by repeating as champions in 2024-2025.

After Guco Lier had secured Game 1 in the final minutes (76-71) and Donza responded by winning Game 2 at home with 94-78, we had a decisive game 3 which would decide who would become champion.

From the start, Donza had clear intentions. Landon Unruh started like a man possessed and marked 10 points in a row: 4-10. Through Cuyvers & Illiaens Guco fought back and in a back-and-forth affair the score ran up to 19-19.

Up until halfway through the second quarter, the score remained fairly balanced, but then Donza went on another run. Six points from Unruh and a three-pointer from Van Driquelle made it 29-36. Guco managed to close the gap before halftime to 33-36.

After the break, Guco saw their opportunity and, thanks to threes from Cuyvers and Cas Van Oosterwyck, suddenly led 40-43. Veteran Senne Geukens (41) brought calm to Donza’s game, and the visitors pulled ahead again by the end of Q3: 49-54.

At the start of the final period, Sander Van Caeneghem scored six points in a row, and after another three-pointer from Unruh, it was 49-63, prompting a timeout from Guco. The home team briefly cut the deficit to 10 points, but with two three-pointers from Van Hille and less than two minutes left, the game was definitively decided. Final score: 57-77.

LDP Donza thus retains its title in Top Division Men One by defeating Guco Lier 2-1 in the series. Guco ended with 5/39 from behind the arc and 18/32 free throws, compared to 12/28 three-pointers and 17/25 free throws for Donza.

Guco:C. Van Oosterwyck 9, S. Van Den Bogaert 5, Cuyvers 21, M. Van Den Bogaert 2, Xhaët 3, Dewit 10, Vanderhoydonck 4, Vandriessche, Illiaens 2, De Bodt 1, Boone

Donza:Sierens 3, Lataire 1, Van Driquelle 7, Unruh 24, Osunde, Van Hille 11, Verborgt 6, Geukens 10, Gasana 2, Van Den Berghe, Van Caeneghem 13, Impe