Round 1 (Regular Season): Dar City lose to Ahly Benghazi

The Regular Season in Basketball Africa League just started. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The biggest surprise of round 1 in Basketball Africa League took place in Benghazi where host Libyan Ahly Benghazi crushed Tanzanian Dar City 118-97 on Tuesday evening. Ahly Benghazi dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Dar City's 40 and made 22-of-28 free shots (78.6 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Dar City 44-29 including 30 on the defensive glass. Ahly Benghazi looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists. American guard Damion Baugh (193-2000, college: TCU) fired 16 points, 6 rebounds and 18 assists for the winners. South Sudanese-Australian center Jo Lual-Acuil (213-1994, college: Baylor) chipped in 20 points and 14 rebounds. Ahly Benghazi's coach felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American forward Michael Foster Jr (207-2003) produced 37 points (!!!), 8 rebounds and 4 blocks (on 13-of-17 shooting from the field) for lost side. Dar City will play next round against strong Tigers trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Ahly Benghazi will try to continue on its current victory against Giants in Johannesburg.
Rwandan Tigers defeated Libyan Ahly Benghazi in Kigali 103-95. Worth to mention a great performance of American Craig Randall II (193-1996, college: UT Martin) who helped to win the game recording 37 points (!!!) and 7 assists. Teafale Lenard Jr. contributed with 27 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks for the winners. American guard Donovan Williams (198-2001, college: UNLV) answered with 28 points and 8 rebounds for Ahly Benghazi. Ahly Benghazi will play next round against Giants trying to get back on the winning streak. Tigers will try to continue on its current victory against Thunder at Nairobi City.
Kenyan Thunder recorded a loss in Nairobi City on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by Tanzanian Dar City 90-85. David Michineau stepped up and scored 39 points (!!!), 8 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners. At the losing side Eugene Adera responded with a double-double by scoring 16 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists. Dar City will meet Tigers in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Thunder will play against Tigers and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Other games of round 1 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
winless Giants were crushed by Dar City in a road game 100-70. Ahly Benghazi lost to Angolan defending champion P.Luanda at home 90-104. P.Luanda lost to undefeated Tigers on the opponent's court 78-82. Thunder managed to outperform Giants in a home game 71-65.



Tigers - Ahly Benghazi 103-95

Rwandan Tigers defeated Libyan Ahly Benghazi in Kigali 103-95. Tigers players were unselfish on offense dishing 23 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American Craig Randall II (193-1996, college: UT Martin) who helped to win the game recording 37 points (!!!) and 7 assists. His fellow American import forward Teafale Lenard Jr. (203-2002, college: Memphis) contributed with 27 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks for the winners. Randall II is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. American guard Donovan Williams (198-2001, college: UNLV) answered with 28 points and 8 rebounds and South Sudanese-Australian center Jo Lual-Acuil (213-1994, college: Baylor) added 17 points and 12 rebounds in the effort for Ahly Benghazi. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Ahly Benghazi will play next round against Giants trying to get back on the winning streak. Tigers will try to continue on its current victory against Thunder at Nairobi City.
Top scorers:
Tigers: R.Craig 37+4reb+7ast, L.Teafale 27+6reb, N.Habimana 11+2reb+2ast, J.Antino 11+2reb+6ast, M.Mangok 7+23reb+2ast, M.Alex 5+5reb+4ast
Ahly Benghazi: W.Donovan 28+8reb+1ast, J.Lual-Acuil 17+12reb+1ast, M.Deng 14+4reb+2ast, D.Baugh 13+1reb+6ast, S.Hamad 11+3reb+1ast, M.Sadi 7+10reb+8ast

Dar City - Giants 100-70

There was no surprise when South African Giants were crushed on the road by Tanzanian Dar City 100-70 on Friday. Dar City forced 20 Giants turnovers. French point guard David Michineau (191-1994) stepped up and scored 27 points, 9 assists and 5 steals for the winners and American-Ivorian guard Nisre Zouzoua (188-1996, college: Nevada, agency: Players Group) chipped in 35 points (!!!) and 5 rebounds. Four Dar City players scored in double figures. At the losing side American swingman Jakobi Heady (198-2002, college: BCU) responded with 26 points and 6 rebounds and forward Nino Dim (198-2000) scored 13 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Dar City will meet Tigers in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Giants will play against P.Luanda and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Dar City: Z.Nisre 35+5reb, M.David 27+4reb+9ast, U.Daniel 14+3reb+4ast, M.Junior 10+2reb+1ast, F.Michael 5+7reb+3ast, T.Hasheem 4+2reb
Giants: J.Heady 26+6reb+2ast, D.Nino 13+4reb+3ast, D.Craig 7+4reb, P.Prinsloo 7+6reb, O.Josh 7+3reb+1ast, N.Sibanyoni 4+7reb+4ast

Thunder - Dar City 85-90

Kenyan Thunder recorded a loss in Nairobi City on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by Tanzanian Dar City 90-85. French point guard David Michineau (191-1994) stepped up and scored 39 points (!!!), 8 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners and American-Ivorian guard Nisre Zouzoua (188-1996, college: Nevada, agency: Players Group) chipped in 20 points and 5 rebounds. Four Dar City players scored in double figures. At the losing side Eugene Adera (203-1997) responded with a double-double by scoring 16 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists and forward Tylor Ongwae (201-1991, college: ULM) scored 18 points and 6 rebounds. Dar City will meet Tigers in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Thunder will play against Tigers and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Dar City: M.David 39+8reb+7ast, Z.Nisre 20+5reb+3ast, U.Daniel 15+1ast, F.Michael 10+7reb+2ast, T.Hasheem 4+13reb, M.Junior 2
Thunder: T.Ongwae 18+6reb+1ast, A.Eugene 16+12reb+5ast, N.Josh 13+5reb+2ast, A.Okall Koranga 11+4reb+1ast, D.Ogechi 9+5reb+3ast, G.Ding 8+5reb+4ast

Ahly Benghazi - P.Luanda 90-104

No shocking result in a game when Angolan P.Luanda defeated on the road Libyan Ahly Benghazi 104-90 on Saturday. P.Luanda dominated down low during the game scoring 68 of its points in the paint compared to Ahly Benghazi's 48. P.Luanda looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists comparing to just 14 passes made by Ahly Benghazi's players. Point guard Childe Dundao (169-1998) stepped up and scored 27 points and 4 assists for the winners and forward Milton Valente (198-1998) chipped in 19 points (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field). P.Luanda's coach used an eleven-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. At the losing side South Sudanese-Australian center Jo Lual-Acuil (213-1994, college: Baylor) responded with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 15 rebounds and South Sudanese forward Majok Deng (205-1993, college: ULM) scored 17 points. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. P.Luanda will meet Giants in the next round. Ahly Benghazi will play against Giants in Johannesburg and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
P.Luanda: D.Childe 27+2reb+4ast, V.Milton 19+4reb+1ast, G.Aboubacar 15+4reb+1ast, G.Domingos 10+4reb+7ast, C.Castro 9+5reb+1ast, B.Javion 9+1reb+5ast
Ahly Benghazi: J.Lual-Acuil 25+15reb, M.Deng 17+3reb+1ast, W.Donovan 15+1reb+1ast, J.Boissy 12+4reb+4ast, D.Baugh 12+1reb+4ast, M.Sadi 6+7reb+4ast

Tigers - P.Luanda 82-78

Tigers used a home court advantage and won against the opponent from Luanda 82-78 on Sunday night. Tigers forced 19 P.Luanda turnovers. American forward Teafale Lenard Jr. (203-2002, college: Memphis) stepped up and scored 26 points and 5 rebounds for the winners and South Sudanese-Australian center Mangok Mathiang (208-1992, college: Louisville) chipped in 18 points and 10 rebounds. At the losing side point guard Childe Dundao (169-1998) responded with 19 points and 4 assists and American-Syrian guard Javion Blake (191-1997, college: Washburn) scored 13 points. P.Luanda's coach tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Tigers will meet Thunder in the next round. P.Luanda will play against Giants in Johannesburg and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Tigers: L.Teafale 26+5reb+3ast, M.Mangok 18+10reb+2ast, R.Craig 15+3reb+4ast, N.Habimana 8+7reb+4ast, M.Alex 6+4reb, N.Dieudonne 5+4reb
P.Luanda: C.Dundao 19+1reb+4ast, J.Blake 13+3reb+3ast, P.Jok 11+4reb, A.Gakou 8+3reb+2ast, M.Valente 7+6reb+3ast, G.Buiamba 6+3reb

Thunder - Giants 71-65

Thunder used a home court advantage and beat the opponent from Johannesburg 71-65 on Sunday night. Forward Tylor Ongwae (201-1991, college: ULM) stepped up and scored 12 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners and South Sudanese forward Garang Ding (203-2001) chipped in 24 points. At the losing side Nkosinathi Sibanyoni (208-1998) responded with a double-double by scoring 13 points, 17 rebounds and 5 assists and Nigerian-South African forward Josh Ozabor (201-2002, college: Bryant) scored 18 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Thunder will meet at home Tigers in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Giants will play against P.Luanda and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Thunder: D.Garang 24+1reb+1ast, O.Tylor 12+7reb+7ast, T.Lance 10+4reb+1ast, D.Shaheed 8+8reb+1ast, J.Nzeakor 6+5reb+1ast, O.Derrick 6+6reb+3ast
Giants: J.Heady 20+2reb+2ast, O.Josh 18+6reb+5ast, N.Sibanyoni 13+17reb+5ast, D.Craig 7+7reb+1ast, P.Prinsloo 3+3reb+1ast, M.Aviwe 2

Ahly Benghazi - Dar City 118-97

The biggest surprise of round 1 in Basketball Africa League took place in Benghazi where host Libyan Ahly Benghazi crushed Tanzanian Dar City 118-97 on Tuesday evening. Ahly Benghazi dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Dar City's 40 and made 22-of-28 free shots (78.6 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Dar City 44-29 including 30 on the defensive glass. Ahly Benghazi looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists. American guard Damion Baugh (193-2000, college: TCU) fired 16 points, 6 rebounds and 18 assists for the winners. South Sudanese-Australian center Jo Lual-Acuil (213-1994, college: Baylor) chipped in a double-double by scoring 20 points and 14 rebounds. Ahly Benghazi's coach felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American forward Michael Foster Jr (207-2003) produced 37 points (!!!), 8 rebounds and 4 blocks (on 13-of-17 shooting from the field) and French point guard David Michineau (191-1994) added 20 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists respectively for lost side. Five Ahly Benghazi and four Dar City players scored in double figures. Dar City will play next round against strong Tigers trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Ahly Benghazi will try to continue on its current victory against Giants in Johannesburg.
Top scorers:
Ahly Benghazi: D.Williams 22+7reb+2ast, D.Majok 22+4reb+1ast, L.Jo 20+14reb, B.Jean-Jacques 18+3reb, B.Damion 16+6reb+18ast, H.Sofian 11+5reb+5ast
Dar City: M.Foster Jr. 37+8reb+2ast, D.Michineau 20+8reb+9ast, J.Madut 18+5reb+1ast, D.Utomi 11+2reb+1ast, N.Zouzoua 9+2reb+2ast, H.Thabeet 2+3reb+1ast