Round 4: REG lose to US Monastir

Basketball Africa League is at the halfway of the Regular Season and there are still another 4 rounds left. Coincidentally all visitors won their games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was another loss of Rwandan REG (3-2) in Kigali on Monday night. Hosts were defeated by Tunisian US Monastir (3-2) 84-79. It was a key game for the top position in the league. US Monastir made 19-of-22 free shots (86.4 percent) during the game. Worth to mention a great performance of Ukrainian-American point guard Jerome Randle (175-1987, college: California) who helped to win the game recording 32 points and Senegalese forward Ibrahima Thomas (213-1987, college: Cincinnati, agency: BIG) who added 17 points and 7 rebounds during the contest. US Monastir's coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. At the losing side American guard Cleveland Thomas (192-1993, college: WKU, agency: Slash Sports) responded with 38 points (!!!) and 4 assists (made all of his eight free throws). Defending Tunisian champion keeps a position of league leader, which they share with 4 other teams including defeated REG. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Important game to mention about took place in . First ranked Ivorian ABC (3-2) saved a 3-point victory on the road edging bottom-ranked Nigerian Kwara Falcons (0-5) 79-76 on Monday evening. Guest team only slightly avoided a big embarassment. The winners were led by South Sudanese forward Chudier Bile (201-1998, college: Georgetown) who scored that evening 24 points and 5 rebounds and Alex Robinson supported him with 13 points and 5 assists. Even a double-double of 14 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists by point guard Jeremiah Mordi (194-1993, college: Queens, NY, agency: Green Sports Management) did not help to save the game for Kwara Falcons. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Defending Ivorian champion maintains first position with 3-2 record, which they share with 4 other teams. Kwara Falcons at the other side still closes the standings with five games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Very important is a home loss of first ranked Ivorian ABC (3-2) against fifth ranked Mali Stade (3-2) on Tuesday night. Host ABC was crushed by Stade in 90-71. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of ABC. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Aliou Diarra fired a double-double by scoring 22 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. Stephane Konate produced 19 points and 8 rebounds for lost side. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Defending Mali champion keeps a position of league leader, which they share with 4 other teams including defeated ABC. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

In the last game of round 4 Douanes won against US Monastir on the opponent's court 76-60.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 15 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists by Jean-Jacques Boissy of Douanes.

Group A

Kwara Falcons - ABC 76-79

Important game to mention about took place in . First ranked Ivorian ABC (3-2) saved a 3-point victory on the road edging bottom-ranked Nigerian Kwara Falcons (0-5) 79-76 on Monday evening. Guest team only slightly avoided a big embarassment. ABC made 16-of-21 charity shots (76.2 percent) during the game. They also forced 21 Kwara Falcons turnovers. Strangely Kwara Falcons outrebounded ABC 48-34 including 34 on the defensive glass. The winners were led by South Sudanese forward Chudier Bile (201-1998, college: Georgetown) who scored that evening 24 points and 5 rebounds and American point guard Alex Robinson (185-1995, college: TCU) supported him with 13 points and 5 assists. Even a double-double of 14 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists by point guard Jeremiah Mordi (194-1993, college: Queens, NY, agency: Green Sports Management) did not help to save the game for Kwara Falcons. American forward AJ Wilson (203-1997, college: S.Carolina) added 15 points for lost side. Four Kwara Falcons players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Defending Ivorian champion maintains first position with 3-2 record, which they share with 4 other teams. Kwara Falcons at the other side still closes the standings with five games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Kwara Falcons: A.Wilson 15+3reb+1ast, J.Mordi 14+14reb+6ast, J.Adekoya 12+4reb+2ast, O.Michael 10+7reb+2ast, R.Monyyong 9+8reb+1ast, E.Victor 6+5reb+1ast
ABC: C.Bile 24+5reb+1ast, A.Robinson 13+2reb+5ast, M.Fofana 9+4reb, A.Harouna 9+6reb+1ast, K.Ulrich 8+2reb+4ast, C.Obekpa 6+7reb+2ast

REG - US Monastir 79-84

The most crucial game of the last round was another loss of Rwandan REG (3-2) in Kigali on Monday night. Hosts were defeated by Tunisian US Monastir (3-2) 84-79. It was a key game for the top position in the league. US Monastir made 19-of-22 free shots (86.4 percent) during the game. Worth to mention a great performance of Ukrainian-American point guard Jerome Randle (175-1987, college: California) who helped to win the game recording 32 points and Senegalese forward Ibrahima Thomas (213-1987, college: Cincinnati, agency: BIG) who added 17 points and 7 rebounds during the contest. US Monastir's coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. At the losing side American guard Cleveland Thomas (192-1993, college: WKU, agency: Slash Sports) responded with 38 points (!!!) and 4 assists (made all of his eight free throws) and American-Rwandan guard Adonis Filer (195-1993, college: FAU) scored 21 points. Defending Tunisian champion keeps a position of league leader, which they share with 4 other teams including defeated REG. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
REG: C.Thomas 38+4reb+4ast, A.Filer 21+3reb+2ast, P.Kambuyi 6+3reb, K.Ulrich 6+4reb+1ast, S.Hagumintwari 5+1reb+2ast, D.Graham 3+7reb+3ast
US Monastir: J.Randle 32+2reb+3ast, I.Thomas 17+7reb+1ast, F.Lahyani 11+5reb+3ast, R.Slimane 9+5reb+3ast, M.Ghayaza 8+4reb+1ast, A.Bouallegue 3+1reb+3ast

ABC - Stade 71-90

Very important is a home loss of first ranked Ivorian ABC (3-2) against fifth ranked Mali Stade (3-2) on Tuesday night. Host ABC was crushed by Stade in 90-71. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of ABC. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Stade dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to ABC's 26. Stade forced 22 ABC turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists comparing to just 15 passes made by ABC's players. Forward Aliou Diarra (-2001) fired a double-double by scoring 22 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. Nigerian forward Rueben Chinyelu (203-2003) chipped in 8 points and 13 rebounds. Stephane Konate (191-1980) produced 19 points and 8 rebounds and American point guard Alex Robinson (185-1995, college: TCU) added 6 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists respectively for lost side. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Defending Mali champion keeps a position of league leader, which they share with 4 other teams including defeated ABC. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
ABC: S.Konate 19+8reb+1ast, A.Harouna 15+3reb, K.Ulrich 10+3reb+1ast, I.Diarra 8+2reb, A.Robinson 6+8reb+8ast, C.Bile 6+3reb
Stade: D.Aliou 22+10reb+2ast, J.Wilkins 12+3reb, N.Traore 11+2reb+1ast, M.Keita 10+6reb+4ast, B.Souleymane 10+2reb+7ast, K.Amayo 8+5reb+8ast

US Monastir - Douanes 60-76

There was a minor upset when much higher ranked Tunisian US Monastir (3-2) was defeated at home by fourth ranked Senegalese Douanes (3-2) 76-60 on Tuesday. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Douanes forced 21 US Monastir turnovers and outrebounded them 42-28 including 29 on the defensive glass. American Marcus Crawford fired 28 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. Point guard Jean-Jacques Boissy (183-2000) chipped in 15 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists. Forward Radhouane Slimane (204-1980) produced 11 points and 9 rebounds and forward Firas Lahyani (201-1991) added 15 points and 5 rebounds respectively for lost side. Four US Monastir players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Douanes have a solid three-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with 4 other teams including defeated US Monastir. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
US Monastir: F.Lahyani 15+5reb, J.Randle 14+2reb+2ast, M.Ghayaza 11+7reb+1ast, R.Slimane 11+9reb+3ast, A.Bouallegue 4+1reb+3ast, I.Thomas 3+1reb
Douanes: C.Marcus 28+6reb+1ast, B.Jean-Jacques 15+7reb+9ast, F.Samba 10+5reb+1ast, B.Osei 9+4reb+1ast, N.Bara 6+5reb, M.Diagne 6+3reb



Tags : JEROME RANDLE, U.S. MONASTIR, BASKETBALL AFRICA LEAGUE BASKETBALL