Leiden wins inaugrial BNXT League title
Zorg en Zekerheid Leiden is the first champion of the BNXT League. In the second game of the finals of the BNXT playoffs, it looked like Donar Groningen was on course for an upset, but Leiden placed a 17-0 run at the beginning of the fourth quarter eventually and won by 71-70.
In the sold-out Vijf Meihal, Leiden quickly took the lead (4-0), but Donar Groningen answered with an 0-18 run. Zorg en Zekerheid Leiden barely got in the paint and also lacked sharpness from beyond the three-point line. In the first half, 16 shots were fired, resulting in a three-pointer by Worthy de Jong.
In the second quarter Zorg en Zekerheid Leiden was able to keep up with Donar. Peter Olisemeka dunked twice for the Leiden formation, who was trailing 19-35 halfway through the game. According to the basketball archivist, this was Zorg en Zekerheid Leiden’s lowest score ever in the first half of a playoff game. The old record was 23.
In the first part of the third quarter, Zorg en Zekerheid Leiden posted an 8-0 run to get back to 33-40. Three-pointers by Austin Luke (twice, the last one a buzzer-beater), Leon Williams, and Donte Ingram ensured Donar closed the quarter with a 41-54 lead.
In less than four minutes, Zorg en Zekerheid Leiden managed to turn the game completely around. The home team went on a 17-0 run. In this run to 58-54, Jhonathan Dunn scored 10 points. With about four minutes to go, Addison came through again with a 4-point play to give Donar a 61-62 lead. De Jong then put Zorg en Zekerheid Leiden back in the lead. Donar left a few free throws in the final phase, while Zorg en Zekerheid Leiden was pretty sure of itself. When Arunas Mikalauskas made it 71-66 22 seconds before time, the Leiden party started in the stands. Amanze Egekeze scored four more points, but it was not enough to give Donar a second prize after winning the Basketball Cup. With a 71-70 victory, the first prize of the BNXT League went to Zorg en Zekerheid Leiden.
Worthy de Jong was named MVP of the playoffs after his last game for Zorg en Zekerheid Leiden. De Jong scored a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Jhonathan Dunn finished with 14 points, and Arunas Mikalauskas with 12 points. Peter Olisemeka grabbed 10 rebounds, 5 of which were offensive. At Donar, Marquis Addison was the top scorer with 13 points, followed by Willem Brandwijk with 10 points (all scored in the first half).