In a nail-biting finale, Trefl Sopot clinched the Polish basketball championship by defeating King Szczecin 77:71 in the seventh game of the series. The match, held at the packed Ergo Arena, witnessed an extraordinary atmosphere as nearly ten thousand spectators watched the teams battle for the title. King Szczecin, the defending champions, initially led the series 3-1 but faltered in the crucial stages, allowing Trefl Sopot to mount a stunning comeback.
Early Domination and Foreign Stars Shine
Trefl Sopot started strong, securing a 12-point lead in the first quarter, thanks to stellar performances from their foreign players, Aaron Best and Andy Van Vliet, who contributed significantly to the team’s 38 first-half points. Conversely, Jakub Schenk, usually a key player, struggled and remained scoreless in the first 20 minutes. Despite King Szczecin’s attempts to rally, Trefl maintained a solid lead, ending the third quarter with a 14-point advantage.
A Final Push and a Historic Win
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, King Szczecin made a surprising comeback, narrowing Trefl’s lead to just six points. Both teams struggled with their three-point shooting, but Trefl Sopot managed to regain their composure and extended their lead back to 11 points. Controlling the game from start to finish, Trefl Sopot’s persistence paid off, as they overturned the series from a 1-3 deficit to a 4-3 victory, claiming their sixth Polish championship after a 16-year wait.
A Record-Breaking Achievement
This victory marks Trefl Sopot as the first team in history to come back from a 1-3 deficit in the Polish Basketball League finals. Their remarkable journey to the championship underscores the team’s resilience and determination, etching their name in the annals of Polish basketball history.
