Justice Jr. Mingas, Kourodu highlight FIBA ABL 2019 All-Star team
LUANDA (Angola) - This year's FIBA Africa Basketball League FINAL FOUR was absolutely filled with talent, and for two days of intense competition in Luanda, a number of players displayed what fans from across the continent expected for.
For long tipped as one of the tournament's top performers, Smouha Sporting Club's James Justice Jr lived up to expectations, powering the Egyptians to the Third-Place of the competition.
A 1.77m (5.ft9in) guard, Justice Jr. played like a giant, and it comes as no surprise that he highlighted the All-Tournament, which also included, MVP Eduardo Mingas (Primeiro D'Agosto), Soufiane Kourodu (AS Sale), Manny Quezada (D'Agosto) and Abderrahim Najah (AS Sale).
James Justice Jr. (Smouha SC)
Justice Jr. averaged 22 points in the FINAL FOUR, helping the Egyptians to a maiden continental appearance that started with a 3-0 in Group D in Madagascar.
After being named MVP of a continental tournament in 2014, Mingas did it again this year. He joined the top performers team due to his terrific displays in the Last Four, where he averaged 21 points and 11.5 rebounds in two games.
Age is definitely just a number for Eduardo Mingas 🇦🇴
— Africa Basketball League (@AfricaLeague) May 26, 2019
✍ Latest updates of the #AfricaLeague Final: https://t.co/7QMnPRLppV pic.twitter.com/xXlj3s64ru
And although Wayne Arnold and Abdelhakim Zouita - two former MVPs - did everything possible to keep Association Sportive of Sale in contention to secure the 2019 FINAL FOUR top prize, their teammate Soufiane Kourodu was an inspirational leader. The 2.09m (6ft9in) power forward acted like a real leader, hustling as if there was no tomorrow.
Soufiane Kourodu (AS Sale)
Fans attending D'Agosto's games over the two-day competition made sure to share their love for Manny Quezada, and the Dominican Republic international responded accordingly with timely floats and three-points that reenergised the Angolans.
It's OVER! 🇦🇴 @clube1deagosto upset Hosts @petroatletico 70-57 in the first-leg of the #Elite8!
— Africa Basketball League (@AfricaLeague) March 22, 2019
Manny Quezada gets a career-high 36 PTS 🔥🔥 & breaks the record for MOST points scored in a game!! #AfricaLeague
📊 Boxscore: https://t.co/zVxotn9JjQ pic.twitter.com/Esx5x7y9r6
The 2015 MVP averaged 18.5 points in the last two games of the season as D'Agosto won their ninth continental trophy.
Undeniably AS Sale's tireless competitor, Abderrahim Najah came up with 12 points and 13 rebounds in the Championship's most important game on Sunday.
Throughout the season, Najah was the engine AS Sale desperately needed to reach the FIBA Africa Basketball League 2019 Final.
FIBA
