Rivers Hoopers lost to US Monastir 89-81 in the BAL playoffs despite Raphiael Putney’s 28 points. Monastir’s Babacar Sané contributed 22 points, helping secure the win. Hoopers will play Armée Patriotique Rwandaise next, while Monastir faces Petro de Luanda in the quarter-finals.
In a gripping semi-final match, Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers suffered a frustrating defeat to Tunisia’s US Monastir, falling 89-81 in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) playoffs. The standout player for Rivers, Raphiael Putney, showcased a spectacular return to South Africa, netting 28 points, along with 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 assist. Meanwhile, Monastir’s Babacar Sané also shined with his performance, contributing 22 points, 4 rebounds, and similar stats in just over 20 minutes of play.
This was Putney’s first game back in South Africa after parting ways with the Cape Town Tigers amid controversy involving unpaid wages. His homecoming started with a bang, thrilling the crowd with two dazzling dunks and a pair of three-pointers in the opening quarter. The first period ended with the Hoopers having a slight edge at 16-14, aided by Madut Akec’s strong offensive presence alongside Patrick Hardy Jr.’s efforts for Monastir.
As the game progressed into the second quarter, Monastir’s Firas Lahyani and Sané jumped into action, countering the efforts of Putney and Akec. Rivers Hoopers maintained a narrow lead at halftime, sitting at 36-32, thanks in part to Peter Olisemeka’s important defensive plays.
The third quarter was slow at first, but Putney ignited the game with back-to-back threes, momentarily boosting the Hoopers’ hopes. However, Monastir’s response, facilitated by Eldridge, Acuoth, and Edogi, brought them back into the lead, closing the quarter at 66-62.
In the final stretch, Putney once again tried to rally his team with an early three-pointer, but Monastir quickly regained control, with critical baskets from Sané pushing their lead to 80-69. Rivers Hoopers struggled to close the gap, unable to overcome Monastir’s steady scoring, with the Tunisian side ultimately sealing the match.
Following this victory, Monastir is set to clash against the sixth seed, Petro de Luanda, in the next round. Rivers Hoopers, on the other hand, will look to bounce back as they prepare to face the fifth seed Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR) in their upcoming match.
Coach Vasco Curado of Monastir said, “It was a good team win. We didn’t say anything special at half-time. The thing is that this group that we have at the BAL hasn’t played together since the last game [in Dakar]. I told the team that we need to be ourselves. We need to be confident… Even if we lose, it’s better [playing on our own terms].”
The Rivers Hoopers faced a tough loss against Monastir in the BAL playoffs, despite Raphiael Putney’s impressive return to South Africa. With the defeat, the Hoopers now turn their focus to their next game against Armée Patriotique Rwandaise, hoping to recover from this setback. Meanwhile, Monastir advances to face Petro de Luanda, building on their momentum from this crucial win.
Original Source: www.espn.com
