Qualifying Tournament; Semifinalists determined

There were only 2 rounds played so far and it's still very beginning of the Second Stage in Africa Basketball League. Coincidentally all hosts won their games. Here is the last round review presented by ESL.

The biggest surprise of round 2 in Africa Basketball League took place in Moanda where host Gabonese Manga BB (1-1) edged Mali AS Police (1-1) 67-64 on Thursday evening. AS Police cut a 14-point halftime deficit to three at the end of the game. They outrebounded AS Police 52-41 including 20 on the offensive glass. The best player for the winners was Cameroonian swingman Cedric Tsangue (194-91) who had a double-double by scoring 15 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. Brice Bidias (-98) chipped in 21 points and 8 rebounds. French-Mali guard Mamadou Keita (192-93) produced 11 points and 5 rebounds for the guests. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game.
Ivorian ABC defeated DR Congolese ASB Mazembe at home 92-86. Guard Stephane Konate (190) orchestrated the victory by scoring 23 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists (was perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line !!!). Abraham Sie contributed with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners. ABC's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Forward Rolly Fula (198-93) replied with 27 points and 6 rebounds for ASB Mazembe.
Libyan Al Nasr (1-1) recorded a loss in Alger on Thursday night. Visitors were defeated by Algerian GS Petroliers (1-1) 86-81. Devin Green had a double-double by scoring 27 points and 14 rebounds (was perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line !!!) to lead the charge for the winners. GS Petroliers' coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. Michael Taylor responded with 34 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
A very interesting game took place in . It ended with only two-point defeat on the road of Nigerien AS Niglec (0-2) to Cameroonian Fap (2-0) 77-75 on Thursday evening. Matthew Hezekiah notched a double-double by scoring 10 points and 15 rebounds to lead the effort. AS Niglec's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help.

The best stats of 2nd round was 36 points (!!!), 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 9 steals by Abdoul Amadou of AS Niglec.

Manga BB - AS Police 67-64

The biggest surprise of round 2 in Africa Basketball League took place in Moanda where host Gabonese Manga BB (1-1) edged Mali AS Police (1-1) 67-64 on Thursday evening. AS Police cut a 14-point halftime deficit to three at the end of the game. They outrebounded AS Police 52-41 including 20 on the offensive glass. The best player for the winners was Cameroonian swingman Cedric Tsangue (194-91) who had a double-double by scoring 15 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. Brice Bidias (-98) chipped in 21 points and 8 rebounds. French-Mali guard Mamadou Keita (192-93) produced 11 points and 5 rebounds and forward Alpha Ndiaye (202-88) added 15 points respectively for the guests. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game.
Top scorers:
Manga BB: B.Brice 21+8reb+1ast, C.Tsangue 15+10reb+6ast, L.Essono Mve 9+7reb+1ast, N.Moise 8+11reb+2ast, M.Dolivitch 7+6reb, A.Boundou 3+4reb+2ast
AS Police: N.Alpha 15+3reb+1ast, O.Traore 11+1reb, M.Keita 11+5reb+3ast, I.Haidara 9+8reb, B.Coulibaly 6+4reb+7ast, D.Benke 5+9reb

ABC - ASB Mazembe 92-86

Ivorian ABC defeated DR Congolese ASB Mazembe at home 92-86. The hosts took control from the first minutes by winning first half. But ASB Mazembe won third quarter 25-19. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. ABC shot 32 for 44 from the free-throw line, while ASB Mazembe only scored sixteen points from the stripe. ABC forced 19 ASB Mazembe turnovers. ASB Mazembe was plagued by 34 personal fouls down the stretch. Guard Stephane Konate (190) orchestrated the victory by scoring 23 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists (was perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line !!!). Point guard Abraham Sie (171-99) contributed with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners. ABC's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Forward Rolly Fula (198-93) replied with 27 points and 6 rebounds and Rwandan Kami Kabange added 20 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in the effort for ASB Mazembe. Five ABC and four ASB Mazembe players scored in double figures.
Top scorers:
ABC: K.Stephane 23+8reb+5ast, A.Sie 19+8reb+7ast, A.Affi 13+2reb+1ast, A.Karaboue 11, J.Reed 11+2reb+1ast, K.Lassina 10+15reb
ASB Mazembe: R.Fula 27+6reb+2ast, K.Kami 20+8reb+5ast, P.Kambuy 11+8reb, E.Isungu 10+11reb+3ast, D.Kapongo 8+1reb, M.Arsene 6+3reb+5ast

GS Petroliers - Al Nasr 86-81

Libyan Al Nasr (1-1) recorded a loss in Alger on Thursday night. Visitors were defeated by Algerian GS Petroliers (1-1) 86-81. The hosts started the game with a very strong first quarter 25-12. But Al Nasr won second period 23-17. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. GS Petroliers had a 36-23 advantage in offensive rebounds. American swingman Devin Green (201-82, college: Hampton) had a double-double by scoring 27 points and 14 rebounds (was perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line !!!) to lead the charge for the winners and center Mohamed-Seddik Touati (215-87) chipped in 16 points and 9 rebounds during the contest. GS Petroliers' coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American guard Michael Taylor (186-86, college: Iowa St.) responded with 34 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 4 assists and Mohammed Saad produced a double-double by scoring 13 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals.
Top scorers:
GS Petroliers: D.Green 27+14reb+3ast, B.Nadjem 17+4reb+1ast, M.Seddik Touati 16+9reb+3ast, A.Hamdini 7+2reb+1ast, M.Adrar 6+2reb+4ast, H.Benayad-Cherif 4+1reb
Al Nasr: M.Taylor 34+5reb+4ast, A.Haidar 14+7reb+4ast, M.Saad 13+10reb+4ast, Y.Elshakmak 8+2reb, O.Lanani 6+10reb, A.Yakubu 3+2reb+2ast

Fap - AS Niglec 77-75

A very interesting game took place in . It ended with only two-point defeat on the road of Nigerien AS Niglec (0-2) to Cameroonian Fap (2-0) 77-75 on Thursday evening. The hosts took control from the first minutes by winning the initial quarter 23-17. But AS Niglec won second period 18-17. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. The game was decided in the last minutes when Fap won last quarter 24-23. Fap outrebounded AS Niglec 47-34 including 16 on the offensive glass. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. American power forward Matthew Hezekiah (206-92, college: SC State) notched a double-double by scoring 10 points and 15 rebounds to lead the effort and the other American import guard Jordan Rezendes (188-92, college: UMass Dartmouth) supported him with 15 points and 8 rebounds. Four Fap players scored in double figures. Even 36 points (!!!), 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 9 steals by Abdoul Amadou (-95) did not help to save the game for AS Niglec. Nigerian forward Dele Ademola (199-89) added 11 points and 12 rebounds for the guests. AS Niglec's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help.
Top scorers:
Fap: E.Beleck 20+3reb+1ast, J.Rezendes 15+8reb+3ast, A.Kome 14+3reb+4ast, M.Hezekiah 10+15reb+3ast, L.Cyrille 8+3reb+5ast, E.Tametong 5+5reb+2ast
AS Niglec: A.Abdoul 36+6reb+4ast, D.Ademola 11+12reb+1ast, J.Williams 8+4reb+1ast, T.Kwaor 8+2ast, M.Abdoul 5+4reb, A.Djibrilla 4+4reb+2ast



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