AALST, Belgium (Interstat) — The BNXT League playoff series between Oostende and Okapi Aalstar returns to Forum Aalst on Friday, May 29, 2026, with the home team seeking to regain momentum against a visiting squad that has found its defensive rhythm.

Okapi (27-10) hosts Oostende (29-15) in a pivotal postseason matchup. The series has been fiercely competitive, with three games decided by single digits in the past week, including Oostende’s 78-60 victory Tuesday in which the visitors held Okapi to its lowest point total of the season.

The home team boasts the better record but has struggled to contain Oostende’s balanced attack. Marcus Domask, a guard who has been a consistent contributor for Oostende, posted 18 points and three rebounds in Tuesday’s win after recording 12 points and four rebounds in a 101-97 Oostende loss on May 24. In Friday’s game, he will look to build on a recent stretch that includes a 22-point, seven-rebound effort May 17 against Brussels.

Siebe Ledegen, Okapi’s center, will be a key figure for Aalstar. Ledegen scored 11 points and grabbed three rebounds in Tuesday’s loss but had 20 points and four rebounds in a May 17 win over Willebroek. His interior presence will be critical against Oostende’s frontcourt, which features Pierre-Antoine Gillet, who contributed seven points and 10 rebounds in Tuesday’s contest.

Okapi’s high-scoring offense — 101 points in the May 24 win — has proven capable of outpacing Oostende, but the visitors have tightened their defense in recent meetings. Oostende’s 97-101 loss on May 24 was its only defeat in the past seven games; the team has otherwise remained resilient, rebounding from a May 80-96 loss to Kortrijk with three consecutive wins.

The series history favors Oostende, which has won three of four head-to-head matchups this season, including a 99-97 overtime win in December. Okapi last defeated Oostende at home on May 24, and a repeat performance Friday would even the series and shift pressure back to the visitors.

Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. local time.