Recap of Day 3 in Rades

Group A

ASB NG - Kano Pillars 66-83

Another exciting game was between Nigerian Kano Pillars and DR Congolese ASB NG where Kano Pillars (1-2) beat ASB NG (0-3) with 17-point difference 83-66. ASB NG was tied at the half but could not keep up in last two quarters eventually losing the game. Kano Pillars shot 23 for 32 from the free-throw line, while ASB NG only scored seven points from the stripe. Kano Pillars forced 25 ASB NG turnovers and had a 21-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. ASB NG was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. It was a good game for point guard Azuoma Dike (188-89) who led his team to a victory with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Guard Abubakar Usman (191-86) contributed with 18 points for the winners. Point guard Kalenda Kabongo (-90) answered with 8 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists and forward Bobo Kasongo (-90) added 16 points in the effort for ASB NG. Kano Pillars will play against ES Rades (#3) at home in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. ASB NG will play against City Oilers and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
ASB NG: B.Kasongo 16+2reb+2ast, E.Mwamba 10+2reb+1ast, J.Botendju 8+5reb+1ast, K.Kabongo 8+7reb+6ast, H.Lisimo 8+2reb+3ast, A.Bonga 6+8reb+3ast
Kano Pillars: A.Usman 18+3reb+3ast, A.Dike 17+5reb+5ast, A.Yahaya 17+6reb+1ast, C.Nwafor 9+5reb, D.Ademola 7+9reb+1ast, L.Okoh 7+3reb+3ast

ES Rades - ASS Sale 71-78

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Tunisian ES Rades (2-1) at the home court on Wednesday night. They were defeated by Moroccan ASS Sale (3-0) 78-71. The teams were tied at the half but managed to speed up in last two quarters eventually winning the game. ASS Sale forced 20 ES Rades turnovers. The best player for the winners was American swingman Wayne Arnold (193-84, college: Tennessee St.) who scored 31 points. Forward Abdelhakim Zouita (200-86) chipped in 11 points and 7 rebounds. Four ASS Sale players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward AJ Matthews (216-89, college: Farmingdale St.) who recorded 19 points, 5 rebounds and 4 blocks (perfect from the field making all nine shots !!!) and Mourad El-Mabrouk (194-86) added 20 points respectively. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. ASS Sale is looking forward to face Interclube in Luanda in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. ES Rades will play on the road against Kano Pillars and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
ES Rades: M.El Mabrouk 20+2reb+2ast, A.Matthews 19+5reb+1ast, O.Abada 11+5reb+5ast, M.Hadidane 8+10reb+3ast, D.Salisbery 5+5reb+4ast, M.Abbassi 4
ASS Sale: W.Arnold 31+3reb+3ast, A.Najah 12+5reb+1ast, A.Zouita 11+7reb+2ast, S.Kourdou 10+4reb, Z.El Masbahi 7+4reb+2ast, Y.El Mahsini 5+4reb+7ast

City Oilers - Interclube 49-67

Angolan Interclube (3-0) played versus Ugandan City Oilers (0-3). Interclube did not have too big problems and got a relatively easy victory 67-49. City Oilers were ahead by 1 point at the halftime before a 35-16 second half run of Interclube. They dominated on the defensive end, holding City Oilers to just 5 points in fourth quarter. It was an exceptional evening for center Miguel Kiala (204-90) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 14 rebounds. Point guard Gerson Domingos (178-96) accounted for 18 points for the winning side. Interclube's coach used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. Dutch-Ugandan power forward Stanley Ocitti (203-80, college: Binghamton) came up with 13 points and 8 rebounds and American-Ugandan power forward ADarius Pegues (208-88, college: Campbellsville) added 7 points and 5 rebounds respectively for City Oilers in the defeat. Interclube's next round opponent will be ASS Sale on the road and it will be for sure the game of the week. City Oilers will play against ASB NG (#5) and look forward to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
City Oilers: S.Ocitti 13+8reb+1ast, J.Mayes 8+2reb+1ast, J.Enabu 7+4reb+2ast, A.Pegues 7+5reb+1ast, L.Ndikumana 6+4reb, S.Omony 4+5reb+1ast
Interclube: G.Domingos 18+3reb+1ast, M.Kiala 14+14reb, E.Ventura 9+1reb+2ast, H.Uhegwu 8+2reb, P.Barros 7+10reb, J.Jungo 4+6reb

Group B

Libolo - US Monastir 72-77

An interesting game where Tunisian U.S. Monastir beat Angolan Libolo 77-72 on Wednesday evening. They trailed by 7 points at the halftime before their 20-7 charge in the third quarter, which allowed them to win the game. U.S. Monastir dominated on the defensive end, holding Libolo to just 7 points in third quarter. It was a great evening for DR Congolese power forward Evariste Shonganya (204-92, agency: Promotex) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 18 rebounds. American-Puerto Rican guard Kyle Vinales (185-92, college: Cent.Conn.St.) helped adding 28 points and 4 steals. The best for the losing side was guard Pedro Bastos (191-93) with 18 points and 4 assists and American Andre Harris (201-85, college: Fair Dickinson) scored 16 points and 7 rebounds. Libolo's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. U.S. Monastir will meet at home Fer.Beira (#10) in the next round. Libolo will play against Gombe B. and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Libolo: P.Bastos 18+4reb+4ast, A.Harris 16+7reb+1ast, T.Do 9+10reb+1ast, O.Cipriano 8+2reb+4ast, R.Moore 7+1reb, M.Barros 7+1reb+1ast
US Monastir: K.Vinales 28+2reb+3ast, E.Shonganya 26+18reb+1ast, B.Hadidane 9+3reb+1ast, E.Bhouri 8+2reb, N.Jaziri 3+1reb+5ast, F.Lahiani 3+7reb+3ast

GS Petroliers - Gombe B. 103-75

There was no surprise in when Nigerian Gombe B. (0-3) was crushed by Algerian GS Petroliers (2-1) 103-75. The game was mostly controlled by GS Petroliers. Gombe B. was better in third quarter 27-23. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. They made 24-of-27 charity shots (88.9 percent) during the game. It was an exceptional evening for forward Mohamed Harath (198-90) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 13 rebounds (went 12 for 12 at the free throw line !!!). American guard Nicholas Covington (188-85, college: Oklahoma City) accounted for 17 points and 4 assists for the winning side. Covington is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Yakubu Istifanus (201-89) came up with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 11 rebounds and forward John Iduh (193-94) added 17 points respectively for Gombe B. in the defeat. Four GS Petroliers and five Gombe B. players scored in double figures. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. GS Petroliers' next round opponent will be ASB Mazembe (#11). Gombe B. will play against Libolo and looks forward to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Gombe B.: J.Iduh 17+3reb, I.Abuchi Agwu 14+4reb+1ast, Y.Istifanus 12+11reb+1ast, K.Gar 12, A.Yakubu 11+2reb+1ast, D.Godwin 4+2reb
GS Petroliers: M.Harath 26+13reb+3ast, N.Covington 17+3reb+4ast, F.Belkhodja 13+3reb+5ast, M.Adrar 12+3reb+1ast, A.Mostefat 9+6reb+1ast, M.Benzegala 7+1reb+2ast

ASB Mazembe - Fer.Beira 72-79

The game between closely ranked teams ended with Mozambican Fer.Beira's (2-1) victory over DR Congolese ASB Mazembe (0-3) 79-72. They took control from the first minutes by winning first half. But ASB Mazembe won third quarter 18-15. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. Fer.Beira made 24-of-27 charity shots (88.9 percent) during the game. It was an exceptional evening for American point guard Angelo Warner (188-92, college: Morehead St.) who led the winners and scored 21 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line). Center Helton Ubisse (201-95) accounted for 21 points and 8 rebounds for the winning side. DR Congolese center Manga Pitchou (208-88) came up with 27 points and 7 rebounds and power forward Gege Kizubanata (204-81) added 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for ASB Mazembe in the defeat. ASB Mazembe's coach tested ten players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Fer.Beira's next round opponent will be U.S. Monastir (#7) on the road and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. ASB Mazembe will play against GS Petroliers (#8) in Alger and looks forward to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
ASB Mazembe: M.Pitchou 27+7reb+1ast, G.Kizubanata 12+8reb+4ast, R.Fula 12+2reb+1ast, A.Kasongo 7+3ast, F.Maradi 5+1reb+2ast, D.Kabuya 4+2reb+1ast
Fer.Beira: H.Ubisse 21+8reb+1ast, A.Warner 21+7reb+4ast, E.Houana 11+2reb+1ast, M.Ivshyn 9+4reb, I.Nurmamad 9+5reb+3ast, A.Machave 8