Rivers Hoopers suffered a 63-57 defeat to Sahara Conference rivals AS Douanes on Saturday in the first-ever seeding games in the history of the Basketball Africa League.
The Nigerian champions left it too late at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, in the battle between the third and fourth seeds, which determines the final placement for the playoffs, which begins officially on Sunday, May 26.
The King’s Men, who were playing against AS Douanes for the third time in this season’s BAL, having previously faced them twice in the Sahara Conference, didn’t have any answers to all the questions the Senegalese champions asked of them.
Not a good day but we would learn from it and be back on Monday when we play US Monastir in the quarter final. #TheBAL #BAL4 #TheKingsMen pic.twitter.com/bRKE3CM142
— Rivers Hoopers (@RiversHoopers) May 25, 2024
The Hoopers lost the first quarter 22-9, and although they regained composure in the second quarter, which they also lost 15-14, they headed into the halftime break with a mammoth 14-point deficit.
The third quarter wasn’t different either, with the Senegalese side claiming a 13-5 win. However, the Hoopers showed some fight in the final quarter, which they took 29-13, but AS Douanes had done enough in the previous rounds to help them seal their second win over the Nigerians in the BAL this season.
Albeit winning the rebound game 56-48, Rivers Hoopers were poor offensively, with AS Douanes holding them to 16.7% from the 3-point range. Their free throw troubles from the group phase also seemed to have carried over to this round, as they made just 10 of 21 from the free throw line for 47.6%.
BAL Elevate teenager David Ike led Rivers Hooper with 11 points and a game-high three blocks. D’Tigers forward Devine Eke got five points and nine rebounds; John Wilkins had eight points and four rebounds; Peter Olisemeka finished with three points and a game-high 12 rebounds; and Kelvin Amayo had seven points and a game-high six assists.
Top performer for today’s game, David Ike #TheBAL#BAL4#TheKingsMen pic.twitter.com/P6LnnppE6M
— Rivers Hoopers (@RiversHoopers) May 25, 2024
Douanes, who were magnificent defensively, forcing the Hoopers to 22 turnovers and also finishing the game with 15 steals, were led by the hot hands of Harouna Abdoulaye, who had 16 points, 4 rebounds, and five steals, as well as shooting three 3s.
Madut Akec finished with 13 points and 8 rebounds; Jean Jacques Boissy got eight points and five rebounds; and Mike Fofana, who hit the winning shot the last time the two teams met, had eight points, six rebounds, and four steals.
🏀 The 2024 BAL Playoffs are set!
The road to the Championship begins tomorrow with these exciting quarterfinal matchups:26 May:
1️⃣ FUS Rabat 🇲🇦 vs. 8️⃣ Cape Town Tigers 🇿🇦
2️⃣ Al Ahly 🇪🇬 vs. 7️⃣ Al Ahly Ly 🇱🇾27 May:
3️⃣ AS Douanes 🇸🇳 vs. 6️⃣ Petro de Luanda 🇦🇴
4️⃣ Rivers Hoopers… pic.twitter.com/1pc2FGpw4G— Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) May 25, 2024
The win meant AS Douanes will play Petro de Luanda in the playoff quarterfinals, while Rivers Hoopers will be up against another familiar foe from the Sahara Conference, US Monastir, after the Tunisians won the battle between the fifth and sixth seeds.
The Kings Men will be in action in the playoffs for the first time ever when they face the 2022 champions, Monastir, at the BK Arena on Monday, May 27 at 7 p.m. Nigerian time.
