Basketball Africa League defending champions US Monastir of Tunisia began their title defence the way they left off from the 2022 edition with a resounding 78-68 win over Mali’s Stade Malien at the Dakar Arena on Sunday.
The seven-time Tunisian League champions exerted their superiority early on with a 23-15 win in the first quarter to make their intentions known from the beginning.
Though Malien crawled back in the second quarter, they could only manage a one-point lead to reduce the deficit to seven points.
However, Monastir did not take their foot off the gas, as a commanding performance in the third quarter ensured they cruised to an opening victory.
⬅ كأس الرابطة الافريقية لكرة السلة ????
انتصار الاتحاد المنستيري على الملعب المالي pic.twitter.com/I35OIgA5h0— Union Sportive de Monastir Basketball (@USMonastirBB) March 12, 2023
Stade Malien’s Souleymane Berthe led both teams in scoring with an impressive 34 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals. The 22-year-old scored 12 of his 23 attempts from the field, and his hot hands ensured he made five of his 13 3-point attempts along with five free throws. Aliou Fadiala Diarra added 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Bamako-based outfit.
However, their efforts were not enough as US Monastir had three players in double figures, led by American-Ukrainian point guard Jerome Randle’s 18 points, four rebounds, and seven assists.
Senegal’s Ibrahima Thomas finished with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Oussama Marnaoui added 12 points off the bench for the Tunisian outfit.
After the win, Thomas reiterated the importance of opening the competition with a win.
“We just wanted to take the first game out of the way. Thankfully we came out with the victory. [Starting the BAL with a win], That’s what we were looking for. Now, we just need to keep progressing,” the 36-year-old said.
US Monastir are currently on a four-game winning streak in the Basketball Africa League, and they remain unbeaten since their last defeat to Rwanda Energy Group in March 2022, where they lost 77-74.
Their next game is on March 15 against Kwara Falcons, who lost to REG in their opening match.
