Meet the stars who lit up Game Day 2 of the West Division Elite 16
Wednesday turned out to be another day that was filled with uncertainty from teams playing in the West Division Elite 16 as the players left fans in suspense with their outstanding performances.
YAOUNDE (Cameroon) - Wednesday turned out to be another day that was filled with uncertainty from teams playing in the West Division Elite 16 as the players left fans in suspense with their outstanding performances.
Here are some players that lit up the atmosphere at the City Arena in Yaounde.
SAMSON AKANO (ABC FIGHTERS)
For a second day in a row, Samson Akano did not take his feet off the pedal with his performance for the ABC Fighters.
As on the opening day, he was torn in the opponent's flesh.
The team’s second game on Wednesday against SLAC of Guinea became a must-win after falling to FUS Rabat earlier on.
Akano had a 9-for-17 shooting to lead ABC with 20 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal with an efficiency of 19 to his credit to make the 98-70 victory a certainty while pushing himself to go the extra mile.
JAMES WESTBROOK (ABC FIGHTERS)
Westbrook knew he had to step up and completed his job with 13 points, 4 assists.
He had an 18-efficiency rating to show his contributions to the team and believed that ABC Fighters will keep pushing for one of the three tickets available when the Division West comes to a close.
JOHNATHAN JORDAN (FUS RABAT)
Ever dependable FUS Rabat guard rose to the occasion when it mattered most for his team.
Against Bangui Sporting Club, Jordan went solo and held on for FUS Rabat to tie the game at 82-82 with two seconds remaining and take it into overtime.
His presence of mind and confidence aroused the fight inside his teammates who joined to push for victory. Jordan was for the second day running the architect of FUS Rabat's win with 28 points, 6 assists and 3 steals.
He was 6-for-11 from the free-throw line and 4-for-9 from the three-point line as Rabat overcame Bangui 90-89 and improved to 2-0.
SOUFIANE BENHMINE (FUS RABAT)
Experience is not what anyone takes for granted and Soufiane Benhmine who added 17 points in the game against Bangui SC paints the real picture.
He was 5-for-9 in field goals, 4-for-6 in 2 points and 6-for-7 in free throws with a 15-efficiency rating that showed his energy on the court. He scored when it mattered the most.
EMMANUEL MALOU (BANGUI SC)
The South Sudanese was the man doing the dirty job for Bangui and made his contributions known with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks with a rating of 18.
Emmanuel Malou (24)
Malou gave great support to the playmakers in the team like Evans Ganapamo who had 20 points and Jimmy Djimrabaye who led in rebounds with 11.
Bangui, no doubt was a difficult side for FUS Rabat despite the 90-89 loss, but Malou gave Rabat some hard time.
SOULEYMAN DIABATE (AL AHLY BENGHAZI)
Ever so confident with his talent, Souleyman Diabate proved to be the engine room of Al Ahly Benghazi and was there to direct the affairs on the court as he distributed the passes and had his way into the paint to drop the balls in the basket.
Benghazi beat FAP 86-77 and the two-time BAL champions Diabate contributed 10 points. With a work rate of 19, he was 4-for-5 in field goals, 3-for-4 in free throws, 2-for-3 in 3-point shots and 2-for-2 in 2-point.
He later admitted that the game against FAP was a difficult one but the last quarter of the game was the key and at the end; it was experience that came to bear for the win.
FIBA