Round 8 (Regular Season): Douanes hand first loss to Rivers Hoopers

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Nigerian Rivers Hoopers (3-1) in Port Harcourt on Thursday night. Hosts were edged by third ranked Senegalese Douanes (2-2) 56-54. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Rivers Hoopers. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. South Sudanese-Australian forward Madut Akec (201-1999, college: Detroit) orchestrated the victory by scoring 17 points and 8 rebounds. Nigerien guard Harouna Abdoulaye (196-1992, college: Miami, OH) contributed with 15 points and 5 steals for the winners. Italian-Nigerian center Peter Olisemeka (207-1991) replied with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 18 rebounds for Rivers Hoopers. Rivers Hoopers' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Defending Senegalese champion moved-up to second place, which they share with P.Luanda and APR. Defending Nigerian champion Rivers Hoopers still keep top position with one game lost. They share it with FUS Rabat. Douanes is looking forward to face league's second-placed APR in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Rivers Hoopers will play against US Monastir and are hoping to win this game.
Very important is a home loss of second ranked Rwandan APR (2-2) against fourth ranked Tunisian US Monastir (1-3) on Thursday night. Host APR was defeated by US Monastir in 83-70. Worth to mention a great performance of American guard Chris Crawford (193-1992, college: Memphis) who helped to win the game recording 31 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists and Oussama Marnaoui who added 16 points during the contest. American power forward Dario Hunt (204-1989, college: Nevada) responded with 17 points and 7 rebounds. Defending Tunisian champion left bottom position moving up to third place, which they share with Cape Town T. Defending Rwandan champion APR keeps the second position with two games lost. They share it with P.Luanda and Douanes. US Monastir will play against league's leader Rivers Hoopers in Port Harcourt in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. APR will play on the road against Douanes in Dakar and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
An interesting game for Nigerian Rivers Hoopers (3-1) which played road game in Monastir against 4th ranked Tunisian US Monastir (1-3). First ranked Rivers Hoopers had an easy win 84-63. The winners were led by Kelvin Amayo who scored that evening 30 points and 9 assists. Even a double-double of 17 points, 6 rebounds and 14 assists by Chris Crawford did not help to save the game for US Monastir. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Rivers Hoopers have a solid three-game winning streak. Defending Nigerian champion maintains first position with 3-1 record, which they share with FUS Rabat. US Monastir lost third consecutive game. Defending Tunisian champion dropped to the third place with three games lost. They share the position with Cape Town T.. Rivers Hoopers will meet at home league's second-placed APR in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. US Monastir will play again against the league's leader Rivers Hoopers in Port Harcourt and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last game of round 8 Douanes were beaten by APR on the road 66-61.



US Monastir - Rivers Hoopers 63-84

An interesting game for Nigerian Rivers Hoopers (3-1) which played road game in Monastir against 4th ranked Tunisian US Monastir (1-3). First ranked Rivers Hoopers had an easy win 84-63. Rivers Hoopers outrebounded US Monastir 42-28 including a 34-23 advantage in defensive rebounds. Rivers Hoopers looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists. The winners were led by Canadian-Nigerian guard Kelvin Amayo (193-1992, college: LMU, agency: Slash Sports) who scored that evening 30 points and 9 assists and American forward William Perry (183-1994, college: Lenoir-Rhyne) supported him with 19 points and 9 assists. Four Rivers Hoopers players scored in double figures. Even a double-double of 17 points, 6 rebounds and 14 assists by American guard Chris Crawford (193-1992, college: Memphis) did not help to save the game for US Monastir. Mali-French Sadio Doucoure (200-1992) added 21 points and 5 rebounds for the hosts. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Rivers Hoopers have a solid three-game winning streak. Defending Nigerian champion maintains first position with 3-1 record, which they share with FUS Rabat. US Monastir lost third consecutive game. Defending Tunisian champion dropped to the third place with three games lost. They share the position with Cape Town T.. Rivers Hoopers will meet at home league's second-placed APR in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. US Monastir will play again against the league's leader Rivers Hoopers in Port Harcourt and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Rivers Hoopers: K.Amayo 30+1reb+9ast, W.Perry 19+4reb+9ast, D.Eke 13+12reb+3ast, P.Olisemeka 13+9reb+2ast, I.David 4+5reb+1ast, N.Onyebuchi 2+2reb
US Monastir: S.Doucoure 21+5reb, C.Crawford 17+6reb+14ast, F.Lahiani 9+4reb+2ast, O.Marnaoui 5, A.Gannouni 5, G.A. Williams II 2+1reb+1ast

APR - Douanes 66-61

The game between closely ranked teams ended with second ranked Rwandan APR's (2-2) home victory over one of their biggest challengers Senegalese Douanes (2-2) 66-61 on Tuesday. APR made 18-of-21 free shots (85.7 percent) during the game. The winners were led by American guard Obadiah Noel (193-1999, college: UMass Lowell) who scored that evening 24 points and 8 rebounds (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line) and American-Rwandan guard Adonis Filer (195-1993, college: FAU) supported him with 10 points and 6 rebounds. Even a double-double of 14 points, 6 rebounds and 11 assists by point guard Jean-Jacques Boissy (183-2000) did not help to save the game for Douanes. American-Ivorian forward Mike Fofana (206-1997, college: HSU) added 8 points and 6 rebounds for the guests. Douanes' coach tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Defending Rwandan champion maintains second position with 2-2 record behind leader Rivers Hoopers, which they share with P.Luanda and Douanes. APR will again meet Douanes (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Douanes will play against US Monastir and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
APR: O.Noel 24+8reb+2ast, A.Filer 10+6reb+3ast, W.Robeyns 9+3ast, A.Mpoyo 8+5reb+1ast, D.Hunt 7+7reb+2ast, N.Habimana 4+2reb+1ast
Douanes: B.Jean-Jacques 14+6reb+11ast, D.Adama 9+3reb, M.Fofana 8+6reb, I.Thomas 8+4reb, H.Abdoulaye 8+2reb+3ast, C.Obekpa 4+3reb

APR - US Monastir 70-83

Very important is a home loss of second ranked Rwandan APR (2-2) against fourth ranked Tunisian US Monastir (1-3) on Thursday night. Host APR was defeated by US Monastir in 83-70. Worth to mention a great performance of American guard Chris Crawford (193-1992, college: Memphis) who helped to win the game recording 31 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists and guard Oussama Marnaoui (196-1999) who added 16 points during the contest. American power forward Dario Hunt (204-1989, college: Nevada) responded with 17 points and 7 rebounds and his fellow American import guard Obadiah Noel (193-1999, college: UMass Lowell) scored 15 points and 5 assists. Defending Tunisian champion left bottom position moving up to third place, which they share with Cape Town T. Defending Rwandan champion APR keeps the second position with two games lost. They share it with P.Luanda and Douanes. US Monastir will play against league's leader Rivers Hoopers in Port Harcourt in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. APR will play on the road against Douanes in Dakar and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
US Monastir: C.Crawford 31+5reb+5ast, O.Marnaoui 16+2reb+3ast, F.Lahiani 12+4reb+4ast, S.Doucoure 7+11reb, L.Chouaya 6+1reb+1ast, A.Majok 5+10reb
APR: D.Hunt 17+7reb+3ast, O.Noel 15+4reb+5ast, A.Mpoyo 11+6reb, A.Filer 9+11reb+3ast, W.Robeyns 8+2reb+3ast, N.Jean 5+5reb

Rivers Hoopers - Douanes 54-56

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Nigerian Rivers Hoopers (3-1) in Port Harcourt on Thursday night. Hosts were edged by third ranked Senegalese Douanes (2-2) 56-54. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Rivers Hoopers. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. South Sudanese-Australian forward Madut Akec (201-1999, college: Detroit) orchestrated the victory by scoring 17 points and 8 rebounds. Nigerien guard Harouna Abdoulaye (196-1992, college: Miami, OH) contributed with 15 points and 5 steals for the winners. Italian-Nigerian center Peter Olisemeka (207-1991) replied with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 18 rebounds and American forward William Perry (183-1994, college: Lenoir-Rhyne) added 17 points and 5 assists (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line) in the effort for Rivers Hoopers. Rivers Hoopers' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Defending Senegalese champion moved-up to second place, which they share with P.Luanda and APR. Defending Nigerian champion Rivers Hoopers still keep top position with one game lost. They share it with FUS Rabat. Douanes is looking forward to face league's second-placed APR in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Rivers Hoopers will play against US Monastir and are hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Douanes: M.Akec 17+8reb+1ast, H.Abdoulaye 15+2reb+2ast, D.Adama 12+3reb, M.Fofana 6+6reb+1ast, B.Jean-Jacques 3+5reb+4ast, F.Samba 2+4reb+2ast
Rivers Hoopers: W.Perry 17+3reb+5ast, P.Olisemeka 16+18reb, K.Amayo 11+6reb+3ast, D.Eke 6+7reb+1ast, I.David 2+2reb, M.Oyebanji 2+1ast