Round 2 (Regular Season): Al Ittihad Al. hand first defeat to Rivers H.

There were only 2 rounds played so far and it's still very beginning of the Regular Season in Basketball Africa League. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Nigerian Rivers H. in Port Harcourt on Tuesday night. Hosts were rolled over by Egyptian Al Ittihad Al. 100-80. Al Ittihad Al. made 16-of-21 free shots (76.2 percent) during the game. They also forced 20 Rivers H. turnovers and outrebounded them 38-26 including 27 on the defensive glass. Al Ittihad Al. looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The best player for the winners was American-Puerto Rican Kyle Vinales (188-1992, college: CCSU, agency: 011 Sports) who scored 26 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. American swingman George King (198-1994, college: Colorado, agency: Slash Sports) chipped in 23 points and 5 rebounds (was perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line !!!). South Sudanese-Australian forward Madut Akec (201-1999, college: Detroit) produced 18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals for the hosts. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Al Ittihad Al. are looking forward to face FUS Rabat at home in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Rivers H. will play against Stade and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
An exciting game was played in Rabat. Moroccan FUS Rabat faced Mali Stade. Host FUS Rabat smashed guests from Bamako 92-72. American-Ivorian guard Nisre Zouzoua (188-1996, college: Nevada, agency: Players Group) orchestrated the victory by scoring 22 points. Johnathan Jordan contributed with 16 points and 5 assists for the winners. Senegalese forward Mouhamed Doumbya (199-1997) replied with 15 points and 4 assists for Stade. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. FUS Rabat will play against Al Ittihad Al. in Alexandria in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Stade will play on the road against Rivers H. in Port Harcourt and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
An exciting game was played in Alexandria. Egyptian Al Ittihad Al. faced Mali Stade. Host Al Ittihad Al. smashed guests from Bamako 91-68. George King scored 22 points and 8 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners. Mahamane Coulibaly responded with 25 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. Al Ittihad Al. will meet at home FUS Rabat in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Stade will play against Rivers H. in Port Harcourt and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last game of round 2 Rivers H. defeated FUS Rabat in Port Harcourt 79-71.



Rivers H. - Al Ittihad Al. 80-100

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Nigerian Rivers H. in Port Harcourt on Tuesday night. Hosts were rolled over by Egyptian Al Ittihad Al. 100-80. Al Ittihad Al. made 16-of-21 free shots (76.2 percent) during the game. They also forced 20 Rivers H. turnovers and outrebounded them 38-26 including 27 on the defensive glass. Al Ittihad Al. looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The best player for the winners was American-Puerto Rican Kyle Vinales (188-1992, college: CCSU, agency: 011 Sports) who scored 26 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. American swingman George King (198-1994, college: Colorado, agency: Slash Sports) chipped in 23 points and 5 rebounds (was perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line !!!). South Sudanese-Australian forward Madut Akec (201-1999, college: Detroit) produced 18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals and Canadian-Nigerian guard Kelvin Amayo (193-1992, college: LMU, agency: DBA Reed) added 14 points, 8 assists and 4 steals respectively for the hosts. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Al Ittihad Al. are looking forward to face FUS Rabat at home in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Rivers H. will play against Stade and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Rivers H.: M.Akec 18+6reb+4ast, R.Putney 17+6reb+1ast, K.Amayo 14+3reb+8ast, M.Munanga 11+5ast, P.Olisemeka 7+4reb+2ast, D.Ike 6+2reb
Al Ittihad Al.: K.Vinales 26+7reb+6ast, G.King 23+5reb+3ast, M.Mohamed 17+1reb+1ast, M.Deng 13+8reb+2ast, A.Mahmoud 6+4reb+1ast, A.Deng 4+1reb+1ast

FUS Rabat - Stade 92-72

An exciting game was played in Rabat. Moroccan FUS Rabat faced Mali Stade. Host FUS Rabat smashed guests from Bamako 92-72. FUS Rabat shot 61.4 percent from the field. American-Ivorian guard Nisre Zouzoua (188-1996, college: Nevada, agency: Players Group) orchestrated the victory by scoring 22 points. American point guard Johnathan Jordan (178-1992, college: TAMUCC, agency: Slash Sports) contributed with 16 points and 5 assists for the winners. Senegalese forward Mouhamed Doumbya (199-1997) replied with 15 points and 4 assists and American-Mali point guard Cartier Diarra (190-1998, college: Virginia Tech) added 12 points in the effort for Stade. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. FUS Rabat will play against Al Ittihad Al. in Alexandria in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Stade will play on the road against Rivers H. in Port Harcourt and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Stade: M.Doumbya 15+4reb+4ast, A.Togo 12+1reb, C.Diarra 12+3reb+3ast, M.Coulibaly 10+4reb+1ast, H.Tounkara 9+3reb, R.Enan 7+4reb
FUS Rabat: N.Zouzoua 22+3reb+3ast, A.Nouhi 19+3reb+1ast, J.Jordan 16+4reb+5ast, M.Diagne 12+8reb, Y.Baeri 11+2reb, A.El Haoua 6+1reb+1ast

Al Ittihad Al. - Stade 91-68

An exciting game was played in Alexandria. Egyptian Al Ittihad Al. faced Mali Stade. Host Al Ittihad Al. smashed guests from Bamako 91-68. Al Ittihad Al. forced 20 Stade turnovers. American swingman George King (198-1994, college: Colorado, agency: Slash Sports) scored 22 points and 8 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and South Sudanese-Australian forward Angok Deng (203-1992, college: Baylor) chipped in 15 points and 9 rebounds during the contest. Five Al Ittihad Al. players scored in double figures. Mali Mahamane Coulibaly (206-2001) responded with 25 points and Senegalese forward Mouhamed Doumbya (199-1997) scored 12 points and 6 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Al Ittihad Al. will meet at home FUS Rabat in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Stade will play against Rivers H. in Port Harcourt and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Stade: M.Coulibaly 25+3reb+2ast, M.Doumbya 12+6reb+1ast, O.Sambe 8+2reb, A.Haidara 6+3reb, H.Dade 4+6reb, C.Diarra 4+2reb+2ast
Al Ittihad Al.: G.King 22+8reb+2ast, A.Deng 15+9reb+3ast, A.Metwaly 12+2reb+4ast, K.Vinales 11+3reb+1ast, M.Deng 11+4reb, M.Mohamed 5+1reb+4ast

FUS Rabat - Rivers H. 71-79

The game between closely ranked teams ended with Moroccan FUS Rabat's home loss to Nigerian Rivers H. 71-79 on Thursday. Rivers H. dominated down low during the game scoring 52 of its points in the paint compared to FUS Rabat's 28. Canadian-Nigerian guard Kelvin Amayo (193-1992, college: LMU, agency: DBA Reed) scored 14 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the charge for the winners and South Sudanese-Australian forward Madut Akec (201-1999, college: Detroit) chipped in 17 points and 8 rebounds during the contest. Five Rivers H. players scored in double figures. Rivers H.'s coach used a ten-player rotation and allowed the starting five to get some rest. American point guard Johnathan Jordan (178-1992, college: TAMUCC, agency: Slash Sports) responded with 12 points and 4 assists and Belgian swingman Yacine Baeri (196-1989) scored 13 points and 4 assists. Rivers H. will meet at home Stade in the next round. FUS Rabat will play against Al Ittihad Al. in Alexandria and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
FUS Rabat: M.Fofana 14+3reb+1ast, Y.Baeri 13+2reb+4ast, J.Jordan 12+3reb+4ast, N.Zouzoua 11+2reb+1ast, M.Diagne 7+9reb, A.Zouita 6+7reb+6ast
Rivers H.: M.Akec 17+8reb+3ast, K.Amayo 14+8reb+7ast, R.Putney 14+5reb+1ast, P.Olisemeka 13+12reb+2ast, M.Munanga 13+6reb+2ast, D.Ike 7+4reb