ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers orchestrate 67-55 win over Titans in President’s Cup semi-final

While it was nowhere near as comfortable as the 31-point victory they enjoyed in their previous encounter in the league back in November, ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers still managed to orchestrate a 67-55 win over Titans BC that propelled them through to their first ever President’s National Cup Final.

Their Galway rivals will be disappointed at having left a sackful of points behind them in Gurranabraher Credit Union Arena on Saturday night after finishing 9 for 26 from the free-throw line and 2 for 18 from outside the arc.

But Portlaoise, not for the first time this season, were still forced to demonstrate a resilient streak that saw them battle their way back from 12 points down late in the first quarter to secure a 12-point victory, four players finishing in double figures, including top-scorer, James Phelan on 17.

It was an explosive opening seven minutes by Titans as they carved out a 12-point advantage, Michael Hayes, Joseph Coughlan, and Fortune Igbokwe all getting in for buckets before Matthew Sweeney delivered a heavy three for the Galway side.

Portlaoise were struggling to cope with their opponents’ intensity and, themselves, were lacking precision from the three-point line, with all eight of their attempts going wayward, but two Gary Morrissey baskets kept them in touch as they ended the opening quarter ten points adrift (20-10).

Sweeney did draw first-blood for Titans in the second period when he put up a deuce, but there was to be no major run by the South Conference side in this period.

Indeed, Panthers managed to hold their opponents to just six points over that 10-minute spell, while they hit 18, Aleksandar Kovacevic accounting for eight points in that purple patch, including a brilliant slap-back deuce.

Two free throws and a three from Davin McEvoy also helped keep Portlaoise motoring as they headed in at the break ahead by two (28-26).

While Titans did manage to edge back in front early in the third, Portlaoise put together a nine-point run in which Phelan put up a deuce and three either side of buckets from Anderson and Kevin Donohoe.

Anderson then employed his physical presence to hit three swift points as Portlaoise opened up a 13-point lead, only to see Titans claw back five as Joseph Coughlan weaved his way through for a deuce and Declan Gbinigie drained a three.

Portlaoise were somewhat fortunate they still had a 50-43 cushion heading into the final quarter as their opponents proved wasteful from the free-throw line, hitting four from 12 in that penultimate period.

And the Galway side did not improve too much in that department in the fourth, managing four from 10 in that period.

Despite closing the gap to three, they saw their Laois rivals begin to pull clear down the stretch, helped no end by a swift deuce and three from Phelan.

Portlaoise were proving a lot more ruthless with their free-throws, particularly in the fourth, during which they went 10 for 10 from the line, Xabier Arriaga accounting for half of that batch to help see his side secure up a mouth-watering clash with Limerick Celtics in the final.

Quarter Scores: Q1: 20-10, Q2: 26-28, Q3: 43-50, Q4: 55-67

Titans BC:

Joseph Coughlan, Viktor Tashev, Michael Hayes, Luke Herrick, Ben Powell, Eoin Coughlan, Eoin Potito, Declan Gbinigie, Matthew Sweeney, Malik Thiam, Fortune Igbokwe, Caner Dogan.

Top Scorers: Joseph Coughlan (14), Declan Gbinigie (11), Matthew Sweeney (10), Michael Hayes (9).

ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers:

Cillian O’Connell, Dylan Dunne, James Phelan, Eric Anderson, Davin McEvoy, Kevin Donohoe, Gary Morrissey, Xabier Arriaga, Kyle Burke, Cormac Howson, Aleksandar Kovacevic, Liam Kinsella.

Top Scorers: James Phelan (17), Xabier Arriaga (11), Eric Anderson (10), Aleksandar Kovacevic (10).