Round 6 (Regular Season): APR lose to Al Ahly Tripoli

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Rwandan APR (2-1) in Kigali on Tuesday night. Hosts were rolled over by Libyan Al Ahly Tripoli (3-0) 90-68. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of APR. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Al Ahly Tripoli forced 21 APR turnovers. The best player for the winners was guard Naseim Badrush (190-1998) who scored 25 points and 7 rebounds. Senegalese point guard Jean-Jacques Boissy (183-2000) chipped in 27 points and 4 steals. At the other side the best for losing team was American guard Obadiah Noel (193-1999, college: UMass Lowell) who recorded 18 points and 4 steals. 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 Ahly Tripoli have a solid three-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader. Defending Rwandan champion APR dropped to the second place with one game lost. Al Ahly Tripoli are looking forward to face MBB (#3) in Johannesburg in the next round, which may be the game of the day. APR will play on the road against Thunder in Nairobi City and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Another exciting game was played in Johannesburg between first ranked Rwandan APR and one of their biggest challengers South African Blue Soldiers where APR (2-1) crushed Blue Soldiers (1-2) on the road with 22-point difference 103-81. It was a good game for Mali forward Aliou Diarra (200-2001) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 14 rebounds. Youssou Ndoye contributed with 25 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. American forward Teafale Lenard Jr. (203-2002, college: Memphis) replied with 20 points and 5 rebounds for Blue Soldiers. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Despite that victory APR went down to second position due to points difference. MBB at the other side dropped to the third place with two games lost. APR will play against Thunder (#4) in Nairobi City in the next round. MBB will play on the road against the league's leader Al Ahly Tripoli and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
An interesting game took place in Nairobi City where fourth ranked South African MBB (1-2) edged by one point one of their biggest challengers Kenyan Thunder (0-3) 75-74 on Tuesday night. Thunder was very close to get their first win. But it seems they have to wait a little bit longer. Pieter Prinsloo had a double-double by scoring 30 points and 11 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners. Blue Soldiers' coach used entire bench in such tough game. The best for the losing side was Tylor Ongwae with 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. MBB left bottom position moving up to third place. It was Thunder's third loss in a row. Defending Kenyan champion still closes the standings with three games lost. MBB will meet league's leader Al Ahly Tripoli on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Thunder will play against the league's second-placed APR and hopes to get finally their first victory.

Rest of the games of round 6 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Al Ahly Tripoli defeated MBB in a road game 87-77. APR smashed Thunder at home 92-63. Al Ahly Tripoli destroyed Thunder on the opponent's court 115-87.



MBB - Al Ahly Tripoli 77-87

There was no surprise in Johannesburg where 4th ranked South African Blue Soldiers (1-2) were defeated by top-ranked Libyan Al Ahly Tripoli (3-0) 87-77 on Saturday. Al Ahly Tripoli made 26-of-33 free shots (78.8 percent) during the game. Al Ahly Tripoli outrebounded MBB 47-34 including a 19-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. Senegalese point guard Jean-Jacques Boissy (183-2000) scored 28 points and 7 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and American point guard Jaylen Adams (188-1996, college: St.Bonaventure) chipped in 16 points and 5 assists during the contest. Four Al Ahly Tripoli players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was American guard Jovan Mooring (188-1994, college: UNLV) with 26 points and his fellow American import forward Teafale Lenard Jr. (203-2002, college: Memphis) scored 20 points and 6 rebounds. Blue Soldiers' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Al Ahly Tripoli have a solid three-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader. Loser Blue Soldiers dropped to the third place with two games lost. Al Ahly Tripoli will meet at home league's second-placed APR in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. MBB will play again against the league's leader Al Ahly Tripoli and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
MBB: J.Mooring 26+4reb+3ast, T.Lenard Jr. 20+6reb+3ast, R.Opong 15+1reb+1ast, P.Prinsloo 6+5reb+1ast, O.Thielemans 4+1ast, N.Mothiba 3
Al Ahly Tripoli: J.Boissy 28+7reb+1ast, J.Adams 16+4reb+5ast, N.Badrush 14+4reb+5ast, D.Thompson 11+8reb+2ast, W.Dawo 7+5reb, M.Sadi 7+12reb+3ast

APR - Thunder 92-63

No shocking result in a game in Kigali where first ranked Rwandan APR (2-1) smashed 3rd ranked Kenyan Thunder (0-3) 92-63 on Saturday. APR had a 38-25 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 32 assists comparing to just 13 passes made by Thunder's players. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when APR made 9 blocks. Mali forward Aliou Diarra (200-2001) had a double-double by scoring 21 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 6 blocks to lead the charge for the winners and American guard Chasson Randle (188-1993, college: Stanford) chipped in 20 points during the contest. The best for the losing side was forward Tylor Ongwae (201-1991, college: ULM) with 14 points and 9 rebounds and American forward Will Davis II (203-1992, college: UC Irvine) scored 11 points and 5 rebounds. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Despite that victory APR went down to second position due to points difference. Defending Kenyan champion Thunder still closes the standings with three games lost. APR will again meet Thunder (#4) in the next round. Thunder will play against MBB in Johannesburg and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Thunder: T.Ongwae 14+9reb+3ast, W.Davis II 11+5reb+1ast, A.Odero 8+3reb+1ast, U.Iroegbu 7+5reb+4ast, E.Adera 6+3reb+1ast, G.Ding 6+1reb+1ast
APR: A.Diarra 21+12reb+4ast, C.Randle 20+4reb+3ast, D.Miller 11+8reb+4ast, Y.Ndoye 9+9reb+2ast, W.Robeyns 8+1reb+1ast, O.Noel 7+4reb+6ast

Thunder - Al Ahly Tripoli 87-115

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 3rd ranked Kenyan Thunder's (0-3) home loss to top-ranked Libyan Al Ahly Tripoli (3-0) 87-115 on Sunday. Al Ahly Tripoli made 17-of-19 free shots (89.5 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. American-Ivorian power forward Deon Thompson (204-1988, college: UNC, agency: Slash Sports) had a double-double by scoring 21 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 blocks to lead the charge for the winners and American point guard Jaylen Adams (188-1996, college: St.Bonaventure) chipped in 26 points and 8 assists during the contest. Four Al Ahly Tripoli players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was Nigerian point guard Uchenna Iroegbu (183-1996, college: Stony Brook) with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists and Eugene Adera (203-1997) scored 14 points and 5 assists. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Al Ahly Tripoli have a solid three-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader. Defending Kenyan champion Thunder still closes the standings with three games lost. Al Ahly Tripoli will meet at home MBB (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Thunder will play against the league's second-placed APR and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Thunder: U.Iroegbu 18+7reb+7ast, E.Adera 14+4reb+5ast, T.Ongwae 10+5reb+2ast, E.Ganapamo 9+1reb+2ast, C.Diong 8+9reb+2ast, G.Ding 8+2reb+2ast
Al Ahly Tripoli: J.Boissy 30+4reb, J.Adams 26+3reb+8ast, D.Thompson 21+14reb+7ast, M.Sadi 20+8reb+4ast, C.Agada 9+8reb+3ast, N.Badrush 5+2reb+3ast

MBB - APR 81-103

Another exciting game was played in Johannesburg between first ranked Rwandan APR and one of their biggest challengers South African Blue Soldiers where APR (2-1) crushed Blue Soldiers (1-2) on the road with 22-point difference 103-81. APR dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Blue Soldiers' 32. APR players were unselfish on offense dishing 27 assists comparing to just 14 passes made by Blue Soldiers' players. Blue Soldiers were plagued by 26 personal fouls down the stretch. It was a good game for Mali forward Aliou Diarra (200-2001) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 14 rebounds. Senegalese center Youssou Ndoye (213-1991, college: St.Bonaventure) contributed with 25 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. Four APR players scored in double figures. American forward Teafale Lenard Jr. (203-2002, college: Memphis) replied with 20 points and 5 rebounds and his fellow American import guard Jovan Mooring (188-1994, college: UNLV) added 17 points and 6 assists in the effort for Blue Soldiers. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Despite that victory APR went down to second position due to points difference. MBB at the other side dropped to the third place with two games lost. APR will play against Thunder (#4) in Nairobi City in the next round. MBB will play on the road against the league's leader Al Ahly Tripoli and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
MBB: T.Lenard Jr. 20+5reb+3ast, J.Mooring 17+3reb+6ast, P.Prinsloo 13+5reb+1ast, R.Opong 8+4reb+1ast, N.Sibanyoni 7+7reb, O.Thielemans 7+3reb+1ast
APR: Y.Ndoye 25+9reb+1ast, A.Diarra 22+14reb+2ast, A.Mpoyo 12+4reb, C.Randle 10+3reb+6ast, O.Noel 9+1reb+6ast, W.Robeyns 8+2reb

Thunder - MBB 74-75

An interesting game took place in Nairobi City where fourth ranked South African MBB (1-2) edged by one point one of their biggest challengers Kenyan Thunder (0-3) 75-74 on Tuesday night. Thunder was very close to get their first win. But it seems they have to wait a little bit longer. Pieter Prinsloo (208-1992, college: Marist) had a double-double by scoring 30 points and 11 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and American forward Teafale Lenard Jr (203-2002, college: Memphis) chipped in 20 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals during the contest. Blue Soldiers' coach used entire bench in such tough game. The best for the losing side was forward Tylor Ongwae (201-1991, college: ULM) with 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and French-Central African forward Evans Ganapamo (201-1994, college: PVAMU) scored 21 points. MBB left bottom position moving up to third place. It was Thunder's third loss in a row. Defending Kenyan champion still closes the standings with three games lost. MBB will meet league's leader Al Ahly Tripoli on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Thunder will play against the league's second-placed APR and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Thunder: E.Ganapamo 21+3reb+2ast, T.Ongwae 20+6reb+4ast, G.Ding 8+5reb+2ast, C.Diong 8+6reb, U.Iroegbu 6+4reb+2ast, W.Davis II 5+5reb
MBB: P.Prinsloo 30+11reb+1ast, T.Lenard Jr. 20+6reb+5ast, J.Mooring 10+2reb+5ast, R.Opong 6+4reb+1ast, O.Thielemans 3+6reb, D.Pfachi 2+1reb+1ast

APR - Al Ahly Tripoli 68-90

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Rwandan APR (2-1) in Kigali on Tuesday night. Hosts were rolled over by Libyan Al Ahly Tripoli (3-0) 90-68. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of APR. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Al Ahly Tripoli forced 21 APR turnovers. The best player for the winners was guard Naseim Badrush (190-1998) who scored 25 points and 7 rebounds. Senegalese point guard Jean-Jacques Boissy (183-2000) chipped in 27 points and 4 steals. Badrush is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. At the other side the best for losing team was American guard Obadiah Noel (193-1999, college: UMass Lowell) who recorded 18 points and 4 steals and Senegalese center Youssou Ndoye (213-1991, college: St.Bonaventure) added 11 points and 12 rebounds respectively. 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 Ahly Tripoli have a solid three-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader. Defending Rwandan champion APR dropped to the second place with one game lost. Al Ahly Tripoli are looking forward to face MBB (#3) in Johannesburg in the next round, which may be the game of the day. APR will play on the road against Thunder in Nairobi City and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
APR: C.Randle 18+3reb+3ast, O.Noel 18+4reb+3ast, Y.Ndoye 11+12reb+1ast, A.Mpoyo 8+8reb, W.Robeyns 8+5reb+3ast, J.Uwitonze 3+1reb
Al Ahly Tripoli: J.Boissy 27+4reb+1ast, N.Badrush 25+7reb+2ast, M.Sadi 14+10reb+4ast, C.Agada 9+7reb+5ast, J.Adams 4+3reb+1ast, A.Elmansouri 4+2reb+1ast