Alaska, Portugal, Kosovo, it doesn’t matter where he’s playing basketball, Travante Williams of Anchorage is in perpetual attack mode.
When the game is on the line he kicks it into another gear. That’s when Takeover Travante emerges.
Portuguese powerhouse Sporting turned to Williams to make something happen in the final seconds of its FIBA EuroCup qualifier and he did just that, driving to the rim and drawing a foul on the final play and then making a free throw to supply an 84-83 victory over BG Gottingen of Germany.
The EuroCup qualifier was played in Mitrovica, Kosovo, where fans booed Williams as he stepped to the free-throw line. He just smiled – and then got the last laugh by sinking the game-winning free throw.
Anchorage’s Travante Williams reacts to being booed.
Before his second attempt, officials added 0.2 back on the clock even though the final horn had already sounded on Williams’ last-second drive. He looked like he intentionally missed the second free throw to start the clock and prevent a last-second hail mary or late whistle.
It was his only miss in nine trips to the foul line.
Williams, 29, started for Sporting and logged 23 minutes of court time. He finished with 18 points, six rebounds, three assists and one steal.
He had a hand in five of his team’s 10 points inside the final two minutes.
The 6-foot-6 Alaskan set up the game-winning free throw on the strength of a strong dribble-drive combo with his left hand. He was clearly bumped as he shot a runner from the elbow.
Williams has built a reputation for being the go-to guy for Sporting. Last spring, he buried a 35-foot 3-pointer in rhythm to beat the buzzer and lift his team to an exciting 86-83 win in the Portuguese Cup.
He’s now delivered another game winner, this time in the EuroCup.
Williams, a former UAF star who played his high school ball at Mt. Edgecumbe, has averaged 17.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists across 16 games in FIBA competitions, including the EuroCup and Champions League.
🏀 BG Gottingen 83-84 @Sporting_CP
🏆 @FIBAEuropeCup Qualifiers
📍 Minatori, Mitrovica
⭐ @wellconnectedAk (18pts, 5/6 2P, 8/9 LL, 6res, 3ast, 1rb)
📊 https://t.co/A7duGfefEc#SomosBasquetebol #FIBAEuropeCup pic.twitter.com/RIe1rdUFxq— Basquetebol FPB (@fpbasquetebol) September 28, 2022