Royal Atomia Brussels dominate Leeuwarden 77-61 in BNXT League clash

Royal Atomia Brussels secured a convincing 77-61 road victory over Leeuwarden on October 11, 2026, in the BNXT League, the cross-border professional basketball competition featuring teams from Belgium and the Netherlands. The win boosts Brussels' position in the standings and hands Leeuwarden a tough home defeat.

Brussels controlled the game from the second quarter onward. After a tight opening period that ended 18-16 in favor of the visitors, Brussels used a 12-2 run early in the second to build a double-digit lead. Leeuwarden struggled with turnovers and cold shooting, managing just 9 points in the second quarter. Brussels took a 41-27 lead into halftime and never looked back.

Second half: Brussels keeps Leeuwarden at bay

Leeuwarden showed signs of life in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 12 points behind back-to-back three-pointers from their captain. However, Brussels responded with a 9-0 run of their own, highlighted by a steal and dunk from their athletic forward. The lead ballooned to 22 points early in the fourth, and although Leeuwarden's bench players chipped away late, the outcome was never in doubt.

Key moments and turning point

The turning point came with 2:15 left in the first half. Leeuwarden had just scored to make it 29-22, and the home crowd was getting into it. But Brussels' point guard hit a step-back three, then forced a turnover on the next possession that led to an easy layup. That five-point swing in 20 seconds pushed the lead to 14 and deflated the home side. Leeuwarden never got closer than 11 points the rest of the way.

Standout performers

Brussels were led by shooting guard Thomas De Ridder, who poured in 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 5-of-8 from downtown. Center Pieter Vermeulen added 14 points and 12 rebounds, controlling the glass. Point guard Jeroen Claes contributed 11 points and 8 assists, while forward Lucas Peeters chipped in 10 points off the bench.

For Leeuwarden, guard Sven Bakker was the lone bright spot with 17 points and 5 assists. Forward Daan Visser added 12 points and 8 rebounds, but the team shot just 35% from the field and committed 18 turnovers. Their leading scorer for the season was held to 9 points on 3-of-12 shooting, a major factor in the loss.

Tactical breakdown

Brussels' defensive game plan focused on packing the paint and forcing Leeuwarden to shoot from outside. The strategy worked: Leeuwarden made only 6 of 28 three-point attempts (21.4%). On offense, Brussels exploited mismatches inside and attacked the offensive glass, grabbing 14 offensive rebounds leading to 19 second-chance points. Their ball movement was excellent, recording 22 assists on 29 made field goals.

BNXT League standings and season impact

With this result, Royal Atomia Brussels improves to 5-2 in the BNXT League, solidifying their place among the top teams. Leeuwarden falls to 3-4 and will need to address their offensive consistency. The BNXT League's unique format splits teams into national pools before a combined playoff, so every game counts for seeding. Brussels look like a team capable of making a deep run, while Leeuwarden must regroup quickly. The two teams will meet again later in the season, and Leeuwarden will be seeking revenge.