APR Basketball Club point guard Adonis Filer could find himself on the sidelines between eight months and one year through injury. The 30-year-old tore his Achilles tendon during his side’s 71-78 loss to Nigerian powerhouse, Rivers Hoopers on Saturday, May 11, in the ongoing Sahara Conference group phase games of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) 2024 in Dakar. ALSO READ: BAL 2024: APR’s playoffs qualification in danger after Hoopers loss The incident occurred in the second quarter of the game as he maneuvered past a Rivers Hoopers’ player, resulting in a painful misstep that left him writhing in agony. Medical assessments conducted by the club's doctors confirmed that the American damaged his Achilles tendon. “I’ve always prayed that I would never have to go through the pain of an injury like this. This was not the plan but God will see me through. Thank you all for your messages, prayers, and kind words. I’m down now but I will be back. Keep the prayers up,” Filer posted on X. It was a double blow for APR who had already lost star guard Obadiah Noel to hamstring injury that forced him out of the game after just four minutes of action. Noel's recovery timeline is comparatively shorter, with an expected absence of approximately three weeks. However, his availability for the upcoming BAL playoffs, scheduled to take place in Kigali from May 24 to June 1, hangs in the balance. Mazen Trakh’s side finds themselves in a hard position in their BAL 2024 campaign, having suffered three defeats in five matches thus far. Sunday’s pivotal encounter against Senegal's AS Douanes holds immense significance, as the army side desperately seeks victory to secure a coveted spot in the playoffs. The team faces a daunting challenge as they navigate through this adversity, striving to maintain their competitive edge in pursuit of BAL glory.
