Besides Filou Oostende and House of Talents Spurs Kortrijk, Windrose Antwerp Giants and Stella Artois Leuven Bears have also secured a place in the semi-finals of the Belgian Cup. Giants erased the narrow loss (71-68) from the outward match against Limburg United with a 91-78 home victory after one extension. Leuven won narrowly twice against Kangaroos Mechelen.

Text : Raf Bastiaenssen

Photo : SportPlus Media

The discharge was huge at Antwerp Giants. Was this the click that coach Lorent's team needed? Immediately after half-time, Limburg United seemed to rush away at 33-41. But Giants found fire and eagerness. Led by an industrious Schoepen - man of the match with 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and an important block shot - the home team turned the game around. At 57-53, Daniels put Giants into the semi-finals virtually for the first time. In a haunting finale, Vanderhaegen had a chance to qualify United from the free-throw line, but he missed one of his two attempts. Extension, then. In it, Giants remained most eager, finding unexpected match winners in Flowers and Pot. 

At Leuven Bears, too, the relief was great. Two hard-fought games, two wins. It will give coach Michiels' team confidence. The Bears already won at Mechelen Winketkaai at 82-86 Friday. On Sunday too, the differences remained small. And at the end, Leuven was able to take the win again. 

Trouble-free qualification for House of Talents Spurs Kortrijk. On Friday in the outward match, it had already dispelled all doubts with a true 69-112 demonstration away at Okapi Aalst. In the redundant return match, Aalst (Maras 24 points and 11 rebounds, newcomer Tennyson 18 points) put up a fine result: 77-80. 

Same story for Filou Oostende. It already had qualification in its pocket on Friday after a very big away win at Spirou Charleroi: 68-89. In its own COREtec Dôme - again 3000 spectators - Ostend suffered a narrow home defeat. Allen made his reappearance with 21 points, Shuler scored 14 points, Anosike accounted for eight points and 10 rebounds. At Charleroi, Smout played a strong game with 22 points and seven assists. Brandwijk came to 16 points. 

QUARTFINALES - results
Friday - outward 
Okapi Aalst-House of Talents Spurs Kortrijk 69-112
Hubo Limburg United-Windrose Giants Antwerp 71-68
Spirou Charleroi-Filou Oostende 68-89
Kangaroos Basket Mechelen-Stella Artois Leuven Bears 82-86

Sunday - back 
House of Talents Spurs Kortrijk-Okapi Aalst 77-80
Windrose Giants Antwerp-Hubo Limburg United
Filou Oostende-Spirou Charleroi 80-83
Stella Artois Leuven Bears-Kangaroos Basket Mechelen 78-73

HALF FINALS
Filou Ostend-Windrose Antwerp Giants 91-78
House of Talents Spurs Kortrijk-Stella Artois Leuven Bears