KIGALI (24th FIBA Africa Champions Club for Men) - Defending champion of the FIBA Africa Champions Club for men, Primeiro d’Agosto looked unstoppable in the 2009 edition of the competition holding in Kigali, Rwanda with an emphatic 119-77 points win over ASPAC basketball club of Benin Republic.

ASPAC who gave a splinter of hope when it rallied to a 26-21 points first quarter but soon realised that the win was the tonic the defending champion needed to rise up to the occasion as it took the game beyond the reach of Cotonou-based Benin side winning the remaining three quarters by 35-15, 35-18 and 28-18 for a cumulative score-line of 119-77 points.

Though ASPAC combo guard, Mohammed Bukar scored a championship high of 31 points that does not stop his side from tasting defeat in the hands of the Agosot side led by reigning Africa Most Valuable Player, Joaqium Gomes who led his side with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists.

Agosot Mario Correia contributed 16 points and 3 rebouns while the quartet of Filipe Abraao, Vladmir Jeronimo, Carlos Almeida and Rodreigo Mascarenhas added 12; 12; 11 and 10 points each.

Primeiro will be observing game Day-3 slated for Tuesday as off day while ASPAC will take on Cooperative Bank of Kenya as it continue its search for a first win.

ASPAC Head Coach, Peter Ahmedu gave kudos to his players for putting a spirited effort against the defending champion.

He, however, promised that his side would do everything within its power to pick it next game against Cooperative Bank on Tuesday.

Kano Pillars go down to APR 77-92

Kigali (24th FIBA Africa Champions Club for Men) - Host APR Lions basketball club of Rwanda brightened its chances of a better placement in the quarter-final of the 24th FIBA Africa Champions Club for men with a 92-77 points victory over Nigeria Kano Pillars basketball club Monday evening in Kigali.

The APR side took the first three quarters by 19-13, 24-13 and 23-22 to take the sail out of their opponent whose effort could only yield a 31-26 points win in the last quarter.

APR guard, Mathew Millers led the floor with 22 points, 9 assists and 4 rebounds, Robert Thomson had a double double effort of 20 points, 11 rebounds, 5 block-shots and 2 assists, Cedric Isom poured in 16 points grabbed 9 rebounds and gave 3 assists while Calvin Fowler added 10 points for their side victory.

Kano Pillars guard, forward, Ibrahim Yusuf led his teammates with 17 points and 3 rebounds just as his teammate and guard, Abubakar Usman added 17 points.

Kano Pillars and APR Lions will have Tuesday as off day which will give both sides time to rest its players and evaluate their remaining games.

APR has Petro Atletico basketball club of Angola as its last group-A game on Thursday while Pillars still have the Angolan and ASB Mazembe to settle scores with on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

Unlucky Coop Bank bow to Interclub 75-83

Kigali (24th FIBA Africa Champions Club for Men) - Luck and determination played a big role in the game between Cooperative Bank basketball club of Kenya and Inter-club basketball club of Congo Brazzaville in a group-B played Monday night in the 24th FIBA Africa Champions Club for Men in Kigali, Rwanda.

The two factor, however, worked in favour of Interclub-club who were not ready to drop a second straight game in the preliminary after its Sunday 115-74 points lose to defending champion beating the Cooperative Bank side to their game winning the first two quarters by 24-19 and 22-08 points to take a 46-27 lead going into the break.

The Kenyan club-side tried to fight back at the resumption of play in the third quarter and fought quarter but their effort could only yield them a 26-16 and 22-21 points win to bow to the more determined Brazzaville-based side Interclub by 83-75 points.

Inter-club Bertrand Boukinda proved a worthy reliance for his side when he posted a competition high of 32 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals, Ghislain Elenga added 16 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds to suppress the Cooperative Bank side.

John Okwako led the Cooperative Bank side with 28 points, 4 steals and 3 rebounds while the duo of Allan Ouma and Eugene Genga added 12 and 10 points each.

Inter-club will take to the floor on game Day-3 Tuesday against Warriors basketball club of Uganda at 17h00 while Cooperative Bank must be at its best when it face ASPAC basketball club of Benin Republic at 19h00 Tuesday.

By Olusegun Ikuesan
FIBA Africa