PORTO (Portuguese Basketball League) - FC Porto and SL Benfica find themselves in the midst of another eye-to-eye encounter in the culmination of the Portuguese Basketball League (LPB) Play-Offs, with the two FIBA Europe Cup sides squaring off in a rematch of last year’s Finals.

After emerging as the top seed in the Regular Season, the blue-and-white Dragons started their title defense on the wrong foot, losing the series-opener 73-70 at the Dragao Caixa and, consequently, their home-court advantage in the best-of-five series as well.

Tomas Barroso filled the boxscore with 16 points, 6 steals, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, Damian Hollis collected 14 points and 6 rebounds, while Carlos Morais chipped in with 13 points, 5 boards and 3 dimes for Benfica.

Meanwhile, the hosts were led by a game-high 20-point effort by Jose Silva.

Having started the Finals just the way they had hoped, coach Carlos Lisboa’s side have already proven time and time again this season they match up well with their main rivals from up north.

“Both sides have a 50 percent chance of winning. We dominated the Regular Season, but Benfica have more trophies to show for this season."Miguel MirandaMiguel Miranda

Although Porto started the 2016-2017 campaign by claiming the Portuguese Basketball SuperCup, Benfica won the next four of five head-to-head meetings en route to lifting the national and league cups.

“The most important thing is to want the trophy more than them. At this point, the two teams know each other very well, and all remaining games will probably be decided by fine details,” Benfica assistant coach Carlos Seixas explained.

The Dragons will have the chance to even the score when the sides meet again in Porto for Game 2 on Sunday evening. After that, the series will move to Lisbon for the next two games.

“[Before the series], both sides had a 50 percent chance of winning. We dominated in the Regular Season, but Benfica have more trophies to show for this season, they were better when the chips were down. Although we play the first two games at home, I don’t think this gives us a particular advantage,” said 38-year-old Porto veteran Miguel Miranda.

The Moncho Lopez-coached Porto were undefeated in the Play-Offs up to this point, having defeated Ovarense and Vitoria de Geuimaraes with identical 3-0 scorelines in the Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals respectively.

Meanwhile, Benfica defeated CAB Madeira 3-1 in the Quarter-Finals before sweeping Oliveirense 3-0 in the Semi-Finals.

FIBA