Round 9 (Regular Season): Rivers Hoopers are defeated by US Monastir

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Nigerian Rivers Hoopers (4-2) in Port Harcourt on Sunday night. Hosts were defeated by fourth ranked Tunisian US Monastir (3-3) 73-62. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. US Monastir outrebounded Rivers Hoopers 49-36 including 38 on the defensive glass. American guard Chris Crawford (193-1992, college: Memphis) stepped up and scored 21 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists for the winners and South Sudanese-Lebanese center Ater Majok (210-1987, college: UConn) chipped in 18 points and 16 rebounds. The best for the losing side was Devine Eke (203-1996, college: Radford) with 13 points and 6 rebounds. Rivers Hoopers' coach rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. US Monastir have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending Tunisian champion moved-up to second place, which they share with 3 other teams. Defending Nigerian champion Rivers Hoopers still keep top position with two games lost.
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Rwandan APR (2-4) against fourth ranked Senegalese Douanes (3-3) on Sunday night. Visiting APR was crushed by Douanes in Dakar 79-54. It was a key game for the second position in the league. American-Ivorian forward Mike Fofana (206-1997, college: HSU) nailed 27 points and 6 rebounds for the winning side and Madut Akec accounted for 14 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. American-Rwandan forward Axel Mpoyo (203-1997, college: GSU) came up with 22 points and 7 rebounds for APR in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Defending Senegalese champion moved-up to second place, which they share with 3 other teams. APR lost third consecutive game. Defending Rwandan champion dropped to the fourth position with four games lost.
The game between Top Four teams took place in Port Harcourt. First ranked Nigerian host Rivers Hoopers (4-2) defeated 3rd placed Rwandan APR (2-4) 78-71. The best player for the winners was Peter Olisemeka who had a double-double by scoring 17 points, 19 rebounds and 5 assists. Rivers Hoopers' coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was Dario Hunt who recorded a double-double by scoring 15 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists. Defending Nigerian champion maintains first place with 4-2 record. APR lost third consecutive game. Defending Rwandan champion dropped to the fourth position with four games lost.

In the last game of round 9 Douanes lost to US Monastir on the opponent's court 69-75.



Rivers Hoopers - APR 78-71

The game between Top Four teams took place in Port Harcourt. First ranked Nigerian host Rivers Hoopers (4-2) defeated 3rd placed Rwandan APR (2-4) 78-71. Rivers Hoopers looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. The best player for the winners was Italian-Nigerian center Peter Olisemeka (207-1991) who had a double-double by scoring 17 points, 19 rebounds and 5 assists. Devine Eke (203-1996, college: Radford) chipped in a double-double by scoring 18 points, 18 rebounds and 4 assists. Rivers Hoopers' coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was American power forward Dario Hunt (204-1989, college: Nevada) who recorded a double-double by scoring 15 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists and American-Rwandan forward Axel Mpoyo (203-1997, college: GSU) added 13 points and 10 rebounds respectively. Five Rivers Hoopers and four APR players scored in double figures. Defending Nigerian champion maintains first place with 4-2 record. APR lost third consecutive game. Defending Rwandan champion dropped to the fourth position with four games lost.
Top scorers:
Rivers Hoopers: D.Eke 18+18reb+4ast, P.Olisemeka 17+19reb+5ast, J.Wilkins 14+6reb+2ast, K.Amayo 13+4reb+4ast, W.Perry 11+4reb+7ast, V.Koko 5+2reb
APR: N.Jean 16+5reb+3ast, D.Hunt 15+14reb+8ast, N.Habimana 13+3reb+4ast, A.Mpoyo 13+10reb+1ast, W.Robeyns 5+3reb+2ast, A.Filer 5+3reb+3ast

US Monastir - Douanes 75-69

There was a minor upset when their close opponent Senegalese Douanes (3-3) were defeated on the road by fourth ranked Tunisian US Monastir (3-3) 75-69 on Saturday. The best player for the winners was American guard Chris Crawford (193-1992, college: Memphis) who scored 18 points and 7 assists. Forward Firas Lahiani (201-1991) chipped in a double-double by scoring 10 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. US Monastir's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. At the other side the best for losing team was Nigerien guard Harouna Abdoulaye (196-1992, college: Miami, OH) who recorded 22 points and center Adama Diakhite (205-1997) added 14 points and 9 rebounds respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. US Monastir have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending Tunisian champion moved-up to second place, which they share with 3 other teams including defeated Douanes.
Top scorers:
US Monastir: C.Crawford 18+4reb+7ast, O.Marnaoui 16+5reb+1ast, G.A. Williams II 13+4reb+3ast, F.Lahiani 10+10reb+5ast, A.Gannouni 9+1reb+2ast, S.Doucoure 6+1ast
Douanes: H.Abdoulaye 22+4reb, D.Adama 14+9reb+1ast, M.Akec 11+7reb+2ast, B.Jean-Jacques 11+4reb+2ast, M.Fofana 7+4reb+3ast, C.Obekpa 2+2reb

Rivers Hoopers - US Monastir 62-73

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Nigerian Rivers Hoopers (4-2) in Port Harcourt on Sunday night. Hosts were defeated by fourth ranked Tunisian US Monastir (3-3) 73-62. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. US Monastir outrebounded Rivers Hoopers 49-36 including 38 on the defensive glass. American guard Chris Crawford (193-1992, college: Memphis) stepped up and scored 21 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists for the winners and South Sudanese-Lebanese center Ater Majok (210-1987, college: UConn) chipped in 18 points and 16 rebounds. The best for the losing side was Devine Eke (203-1996, college: Radford) with 13 points and 6 rebounds and Italian-Nigerian center Peter Olisemeka (207-1991) scored 8 points and 10 rebounds. Rivers Hoopers' coach rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. US Monastir have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending Tunisian champion moved-up to second place, which they share with 3 other teams. Defending Nigerian champion Rivers Hoopers still keep top position with two games lost.
Top scorers:
US Monastir: C.Crawford 21+6reb+9ast, A.Majok 18+16reb+1ast, L.Chouaya 11+6reb+1ast, O.Marnaoui 8+3reb+3ast, F.Lahiani 7+11reb+2ast, A.Addami 5+3reb+1ast
Rivers Hoopers: D.Eke 13+6reb+3ast, K.Amayo 10+3reb+7ast, M.Oyebanji 9+5reb, I.David 9+2reb, P.Olisemeka 8+10reb+2ast, J.Wilkins 7+4reb

Douanes - APR 79-54

Very important is a road loss of third ranked Rwandan APR (2-4) against fourth ranked Senegalese Douanes (3-3) on Sunday night. Visiting APR was crushed by Douanes in Dakar 79-54. It was a key game for the second position in the league. Douanes forced 19 APR turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. American-Ivorian forward Mike Fofana (206-1997, college: HSU) nailed 27 points and 6 rebounds for the winning side and South Sudanese-Australian forward Madut Akec (201-1999, college: Detroit) accounted for 14 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. Four Douanes players scored in double figures. American-Rwandan forward Axel Mpoyo (203-1997, college: GSU) came up with 22 points and 7 rebounds and Canadian-Rwandan guard Ntore Habimana (196-1997, college: Laurier) added 12 points and 5 rebounds respectively for APR in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Defending Senegalese champion moved-up to second place, which they share with 3 other teams. APR lost third consecutive game. Defending Rwandan champion dropped to the fourth position with four games lost.
Top scorers:
Douanes: M.Fofana 27+6reb+2ast, H.Abdoulaye 18+2reb+8ast, M.Akec 14+9reb+5ast, D.Adama 11+7reb, M.Khadim 4+2reb, N.Alkaly 3+2reb+1ast
APR: A.Mpoyo 22+7reb, N.Habimana 12+5reb+2ast, W.Robeyns 9+1reb+4ast, D.Hunt 4+6reb+2ast, N.Jean 4+5reb+1ast, C.Mouhamed 2+2reb