Rivers Hoopers advance to BAL Playoffs

The first-ever BAL double-overtime game saw Nigeria's Rivers Hoopers defeat Rwanda's Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR) 78-71. As a result, the team became the first from the Sahara Conference to secure a position in the BAL Playoffs, which will begin on May 24 at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.

Devine Eke (18 points, 18 rebounds) and Peter Olisemeka (17 points, 19 rebounds) led the Hoopers in rebounding as well as scoring in double figures. Both teams shot less than 40% from the field in this low-scoring game, which saw Will Perry contribute 11 points and seven assists.

With 16 points, 5 rebounds, and a team-high 8 assists, Jean Jacques Nshobozwabyosenumukiza led APR. Dario Hunt finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and 8 assists.

APR, who sits second in the Sahara Conference heading into today's games, will try to earn a spot in the postseason when they play AS Douanes of Senegal (4th place with 2 wins and 3 losses) this evening.

The 2022 BAL champions US Monastir of Tunisia defeated AS Douanes 75-69 in the second game of the day to maintain their hopes of making the playoffs. This was their second consecutive victory in the competition.

The champions from Tunisia have made a remarkable turnaround; after losing their first three games in the Sahara Conference, they are now just one victory away from making the postseason.

With eighteen points and seven assists, Chris Crawford led Monastir. Oussama Marnaoui scored sixteen points, and Firas Lahyani finished with ten points and ten rebounds.

Adama Diakhite added 14 points and nine rebounds, while Abdoulaye Harouna led the Douanes with 22 points.

Rivers Hoopers vs. US Monastir and AS Douanes vs. APR will determine who will play for the final two playoff berths in the Sahara Conference.