Sunday, May 5
APR Vs Rivers Hoopers (4:30pm CAT)
APR Basketball Club are aiming to build on their bright debut to the Basketball Africa League (BAL) 2024 when they go head to head with Nigeria's Rivers Hoopers in their second encounter of the Sahara Conference on Sunday.
The clash tips off at 4:30pm Kigali Time at Dakar Arena.
The Rwandan champions on Saturday, May 4, secured a hard-fought victory against Tunisia's US Monastir, prevailing 89-84 after overtime at Dakar Arena, setting a strong tone for their campaign.
Noel steals the show as APR win overtime thriller against US Monastir
The upcoming match against Rivers Hoopers promises to pose an even more difficult challenge, considering that the Nigerian side already made a strong statement in the competition by beating BAL 2023 runners-up AS Douanes despite the latter’s formidable support from home fans.
Speaking exclusively to Times Sport, APR captain William Robeyns, expressed his confidence in their performance so far and emphasized their ambition to remain undefeated in the Sahara Conference.
"We're prepared to give our all. Our aim is to emerge unbeaten in the Sahara Conference, and we believe it's achievable," Robeyns said in an interview.
And, in a separate interview, point guard Adonis Filer highlighted the significance of their upcoming clash.
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"We're in excellent form, and winning this game would bolster our chances of progressing to the playoffs in Kigali," he remarked.
Filer emphasized team’s cohesion and adherence to the coach's instructions as key factors for success.
"We're a cohesive unit. As we continue to gel with our new teammates, we'll prioritize teamwork, which we believe will yield positive outcomes," he added.
Reflecting on their recent victory, Filer described it as crucial, considering it marked their debut in the BAL.
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"The win was pivotal for us, being our inaugural BAL game. Our hunger for victory was evident, and collectively, we delivered an outstanding performance," he concluded.
It was a dream start for APR, with Adonis Filer and Obadiah Noel combining for 48 points, in addition to Axel Mpoyo’s 15 points and seven rebounds on a night where the team struggled making shots, but made up for it defensively forcing Monastir’s 20 turnovers.
All the teams in the Sahara Conference will play each other twice, with the top two teams joining Morocco’s FUS Rabat, Angola’s Petro de Luanda, South Africa’s Cape Town Tigers, Egypt’s Al Ahly and Libya’s Al Ahly Ly in the BAL Playoffs and Finals in Kigali, Rwanda later this month.
The last playoff spot will be decided between Central African Republic’s Bangui SC and the team which will end up third in the Sahara Conference.