Romdhane's double-double sends Tunisia to title defence game after win over Cape Verde

KIGALI (Rwanda) - FIBA AfroBasket defending champion, Tunisia have secured their place in the grand finale of the 30th edition of Africa's biggest basketball Championship.

Tunisia outscored Cape Verde 75-65 in Saturday's first Semi-Final at Kigali Arena thanks to the coordination of team captain Makram Ben Romdhane who led by example  by finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds - his second double-double in the tournament - as the champions look to join the likes of perennial champions, Angola in winning the title back-back.

Romdhane, who was also the most efficient player on his team, led his side from the first quarter after a sloppy start in the opening minutes which saw Cape Verde racing to a 12-2 lead before the resurgence of the defending champions who closed the opening quarter with a 16-14 and never trailed again.

The two-point first quarter advantage sparked the Tunisian on as they went on to win the second and third quarters to open up a 15-point lead going into the last quarter (59-44).

Cape Verde's spirited efforts to catch with the two-time champions was not success as they could only cut the deficit to four points.

Walter Tavares did everything he could to keep his country in contention by finishing with a team-high 16 points and eight rebounds, Ivan Almeida added 13 points and Kenneti Mendes played his best in tournament so far, after contributing 11 points off the bench.  

In the post-game press conference, Cape Verde head coach Emanuel Trovoada admitted: "We lacked some international basketball experience. Some of our players were playing in an international basketball Semi-Finals for the first time in their careers. But I must say that out long-range shooting didn't work out today. It's up to us to reflect, and improve aspects our game because we still have a game to play [Third-Place game]."

The trio of Salah Mejri (14 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and five block shots; Michael Roll (14 points, three rebounds, ten assist) and Omar Abada (14 points, six rebounds and four assist) all combined with Romdhane to contribute 58 of their side cumulative points as they await their final opponent that will come out of the game between Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire.

FIBA