Round 1 (Regular Season): Al Ittihad Al. defeat Stade in the closest game of the round

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

This derby game ended with only three-point home defeat of Mali Stade to Egyptian Al Ittihad Al. 72-69 on Sunday evening. South Sudanese forward Majok Deng (205-1993, college: ULM) stepped up and scored 21 points for the winners and American-Puerto Rican Kyle Vinales (188-1992, college: CCSU, agency: 011 Sports) chipped in 10 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. At the losing side American-Mali point guard Cartier Diarra (190-1998, college: Virginia Tech) responded with 19 points and 6 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Al Ittihad Al. is looking forward to face Rivers H. in Port Harcourt in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Stade will play again on the road against Al Ittihad Al. in Alexandria and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Mali host Stade was smashed by Nigerian Rivers H. 81-60. South Sudanese-Australian forward Madut Akec (201-1999, college: Detroit) nailed a double-double by scoring 16 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side and Maxi Munanga accounted for 11 points and 9 assists. Mali Mahamane Coulibaly (206-2001) came up with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists for Stade 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. Rivers H. will play against FUS Rabat on the road in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Stade will play against Al Ittihad Al. in Alexandria and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game between Top Four teams took place in Rabat. Moroccan host FUS Rabat lost to Egyptian Al Ittihad Al. 71-60. Majok Deng fired a double-double by scoring 18 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. Johnathan Jordan produced 22 points and 5 rebounds for lost side. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Al Ittihad Al. will meet at home Stade in the next round. FUS Rabat will play against Rivers H. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last game of round 1 winless FUS Rabat lost to undefeated Rivers H. on the opponent's court 82-88.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 19 points and 6 rebounds by Abdelhakim Zouita of FUS Rabat.



Stade - Rivers H. 60-81

Mali host Stade was smashed by Nigerian Rivers H. 81-60. Rivers H. outrebounded Stade 47-36 including 35 on the defensive glass. Rivers H. players were unselfish on offense dishing 26 assists. South Sudanese-Australian forward Madut Akec (201-1999, college: Detroit) nailed a double-double by scoring 16 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side and DR Congolese guard Maxi Munanga (191-1993) accounted for 11 points and 9 assists. Four Rivers H. players scored in double figures. Mali Mahamane Coulibaly (206-2001) came up with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists and Senegalese forward Mouhamed Doumbya (199-1997) added 18 points and 10 rebounds respectively for Stade 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. Rivers H. will play against FUS Rabat on the road in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Stade will play against Al Ittihad Al. in Alexandria and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Rivers H.: K.Amayo 19+2reb+3ast, M.Akec 16+11reb+5ast, R.Putney 14+4reb+1ast, M.Munanga 11+4reb+9ast, P.Olisemeka 9+12reb+3ast, O.Nwaiwu 7+6reb+1ast
Stade: M.Coulibaly 20+8reb+7ast, M.Doumbya 18+10reb+2ast, C.Diarra 10+2reb+1ast, H.Dade 4+3reb, G.Fofana 2, H.Tounkara 2

FUS Rabat - Al Ittihad Al. 60-71

The game between Top Four teams took place in Rabat. Moroccan host FUS Rabat lost to Egyptian Al Ittihad Al. 71-60. Al Ittihad Al. outrebounded FUS Rabat 48-35 including 17 on the offensive glass. South Sudanese forward Majok Deng (205-1993, college: ULM) fired a double-double by scoring 18 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. American swingman George King (198-1994, college: Colorado, agency: Slash Sports) chipped in 19 points and 6 rebounds. Four Al Ittihad Al. players scored in double figures. American point guard Johnathan Jordan (178-1992, college: TAMUCC, agency: Slash Sports) produced 22 points and 5 rebounds and American-Ivorian guard Nisre Zouzoua (188-1996, college: Nevada, agency: Players Group) added 10 points and 5 assists respectively for lost side. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Al Ittihad Al. will meet at home Stade in the next round. FUS Rabat will play against Rivers H. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Al Ittihad Al.: G.King 19+6reb+2ast, M.Deng 18+12reb+2ast, K.Vinales 12+7reb+4ast, A.Khalaf 10+7reb+1ast, A.Deng 7+8reb, A.Mahmoud 4+6reb
FUS Rabat: J.Jordan 22+5reb+1ast, N.Zouzoua 10+3reb+5ast, A.Zouita 7+4reb+1ast, A.Nouhi 5+1reb, S.Kourdou 4+4reb, M.Diagne 4+3reb

Stade - Al Ittihad Al. 69-72

The most exciting game of round 1 in the Basketball Africa League took place in . This derby game ended with only three-point home defeat of Mali Stade to Egyptian Al Ittihad Al. 72-69 on Sunday evening. South Sudanese forward Majok Deng (205-1993, college: ULM) stepped up and scored 21 points for the winners and American-Puerto Rican Kyle Vinales (188-1992, college: CCSU, agency: 011 Sports) chipped in 10 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. At the losing side American-Mali point guard Cartier Diarra (190-1998, college: Virginia Tech) responded with 19 points and 6 rebounds and Mali Mahamane Coulibaly (206-2001) scored 7 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Al Ittihad Al. is looking forward to face Rivers H. in Port Harcourt in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Stade will play again on the road against Al Ittihad Al. in Alexandria and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Al Ittihad Al.: M.Deng 21+2reb, K.Vinales 10+9reb+4ast, G.King 9+3reb, M.Mohamed 8+1reb+3ast, A.Khalaf 8+11reb, Y.Aboushousha 6+3reb
Stade: C.Diarra 19+6reb+1ast, L.Sane 12+3reb, M.Doumbya 9+7reb, A.Togo 7+2reb+1ast, M.Coulibaly 7+5reb+5ast, R.Enan 6+8reb

Rivers H. - FUS Rabat 88-82

The game between closely ranked teams ended with Moroccan FUS Rabat's road loss to Nigerian Rivers H. 82-88 on Sunday. South Sudanese-Australian forward Madut Akec (201-1999, college: Detroit) fired 25 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. Canadian-Nigerian guard Kelvin Amayo (193-1992, college: LMU, agency: DBA Reed) chipped in 23 points and 4 assists. Five Rivers H. players scored in double figures. Forward Abdelhakim Zouita (200-1986) produced 19 points and 6 rebounds and American point guard Johnathan Jordan (178-1992, college: TAMUCC, agency: Slash Sports) added 8 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists respectively for lost side. FUS Rabat's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Rivers H. will again meet FUS Rabat on the road in the next round, which may be the game of the day. FUS Rabat will play against Stade and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Rivers H.: M.Akec 25+8reb+2ast, K.Amayo 23+2reb+4ast, R.Putney 13+7reb+3ast, M.Munanga 12+3reb+6ast, P.Olisemeka 10+14reb+2ast, M.Afuwape 3
FUS Rabat: N.Zouzoua 21+3reb+3ast, A.Zouita 19+6reb+3ast, B.Azouga 16+3reb, J.Jordan 8+9reb+11ast, Y.Baeri 6+3reb+3ast, A.Nouhi 6+5reb+3ast