FAP, GSP, ABC and AS Police advance to the BAL 2020 ''Elite 16'' Semi-finals

YAOUNDE (Cameroon) - Fans at the Palais Polyvalent des Sports de Yaounde experienced a wave of emotions as the last group games in the West Division of the BAL 2020 "Elite 16" unravelled.

Manga Basketball made it two wins in the group phase as they hit AS Police 67-64 with Brice Eyaga backing an unrivalled 21 points and 8 rebounds while Cedric Tsangue contributed 15 points to the team’s winning cause.

Three players from the Malian outfit AS Police hit double digits with Alpha Ndiaye homing 15 points while Ousmane Traore and Mamadou Keita both added 11 points each.

Despite a nerve racking win, Manga BB’s future in the "Elite 16" depended on a victory of BC Mazembe over ABC of Cote d’Ivoire. But the Gabonese outfit’s hopes will never come to culmination as a purposeful ABC side cruised past BC Mazembe.

The Abidjan-based team was inspired by their charismatic captain Stephane Konate who once again produced staggering figures.

The 39-year-old was emphatic dropping 23 points and 8 rebounds as the Ivorian side controlled the first three quarters 25-21, 49-39, 68-64 before concluding a stunning domination in the last quarter to secure a critical 92-86 win that opened the team the doors to the Semi-Finals.

BC Mazembe did put up a good fight buoyed by captain Rolly Fula who netted a game best 27 points while Kami Kabange added 20 points. However BC Mazembe’s poor management of the game and Emmanuel Isungu’s inability to convert 7 of his 9 shots from the charity line has seen the Congolese giants depart from the Yaoundé event with an unenvious record of three defeats.

But the first two games did set the scene for an adrenaline packed two encounters. First came the Al Naser-GSP cracker with both teams needing a comfortable win to lockdown their spot in the semis.

"THE CROWD IS THE REASON WE WON. THEY MOTIVATED US AND CONTINUED SUPPORTING EVEN WHEN WE WERE LOSING."- Kouamo

Algerian giants GSP reigned supreme in the first quarter securing a 25-12 win. But inspired by an astounding Michael Taylor who hit 34 points and 5 rebounds, Al Naser came into the second quarter guns blazing to secure a 23-17 lead and cut their deficit to 7.

In the third quarter, the Libyan outfit set up full throttle subduing GSP 27-23 and by the time the third quarter came to an end, GSP were lucky to have a 3 point lead. The fourth quarter was a tale of revival and resilience as both sides took turns in running the show.

However 30 seconds to the end of the game, things went south for the Libyans as a 3 pointer buzz beater by Abdellah Hamdini secured a decisive 86-81 win for GSP. Courtesy of this victory, the Algerian giants finish first of Group A setting up an exciting semi-final clash against AS  Police.

With a GSP win, the host FAP needed just a victory against AS Nigelec to complete the Semi-final lineup. The Cameroonian army and police funded side cruised through the first quarter to a 23-17 lead but trailed in the second quarter 17-18.

AS Nigelec buoyed by a mesmerizing Harouna Amadou with his 36 points and 6 rebounds clinched the third quarter 17-13.

Fired by a boisterous home crowd and collective effort, the host stunned AS Nigelec with a decisive lay up from Mathew Hezekiah to seal a 77-75 edge for FAP.

FAP coach Gilles Kouamo expressed his appreciation to the home fans for their support

"The crowd is the reason we won. They motivated us and continued supporting even when we were losing. Whenever you have such a passionate crowd behind you, it’s a major boost for the players."

FAP will matchup ABC in the other semi-final with both fixtures slated for 30 November 2019.

FIBA