Galway's Titans Basketball Club came from 11 points down in the fourth quarter to claim the U20 Men's National Cup last Saturday.
Titans' dramatic 73-69 victory over Neptune of Cork was a game characterised by the Galway club's character and never-say-die attitude. Fortune Igbokwe picked up the MVP after a mammoth performance racking up 25 points and 20 rebounds.
Titans trailed 22-20 at the end of the first quarter. They did well to close the gap as Neptunes raced into a 10-point lead early in the contest as the Cork outfit led 15-5 with four and a half minutes to go.
Stephan Owede levelled it up 24-24 three minutes into the second quarter but Neptune led 35-34 going into half-time.
A tight third quarter followed with Luke Mitchell’s basket for Titans saw them trail 42-41 at the midpoint. Neptune then pushed in front with a pair of baskets in the final seconds had Neptune 51-47 ahead.
The Cork side raced out of the blocks in the fourth quarter, with three three-pointers prompting a Titans timeout as they trailed 60-51 two minutes in. Neptune were ahead by 11 three and a half minutes into the quarter and were in the driving seat.
A big three from Luka Mitchell sparked the beginning of a thrilling Titans response. was followed by layup under the basket from Ikbokwe followed prompting a big response from the Titans bench. Titans trailed 68-66 with just over two minutes to go.
They were level at 68-68 after offensive rebound by Victor Tashev levelled it with an offensive rebound to make it 68-68. Back-to-back layups from Declan Gbinigie and Titans were 72-69 up with a little over a minute to go and that proved enough.
The comeback was complete.
