Five players that dominated Game Day 1 in Yaounde's Road to BAL Elite 16

 

YAOUNDE (Cameroon)— Game Day One at the Paposy Arena in the city of Yaounde, Cameroon of the Elite 16, Division West can best be described as a mixed grill of sorts.

This is because the teams showed they are all ready to give a good account of themselves not minding the pedigree of the opposition.

FIBA.basketball looks at the players who stood out in the opener day of the race for the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Season 4. 

EVANS GANAPAMO (BANGUI SPORTING CLUB)

The 29-year-old guard was inspirational for his team as he spearheaded plays that eventually gave the Central African Republic champions victory over SLAC of Guinea.

He scored a game-high 25 points to lead the floor, had 5 rebounds, 2 steals in the ding-dong game that saw 5 lead changes.

Ganapamo had an efficiency rate of 20 in the game in which he was 4 for 10 from behind the arc while finishing with a perfect 3for 3 from the free-throw line. 

SAMSON AKANO (ABC FIGHTERS)

Akano had real fun on the court against FUS Rabat although his team lost the game but he was a torn in the flesh of the Moroccan champions with his penetrating moves and shots.

The 30-year-old American was on the court for 21.10 minutes and his presence was felt as left no one in doubt about his shooting ability and had 6/11 in field goals.

Akano was superb from behind the three-point making 3 of hist 4 attempts to sign out with a game-best 19 points. He had a14 efficiency rate.

JOHNATHAN JORDAN (FUS RABAT)

Jordan fulfilled his point guard duties to perfection. He dictated the pace of the game; he showed such control and took the fight to his opponent and scored 18 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, and dished out 3 assists in the process with an 18 efficiency rating to his credit.

 

Standing at 1.80m (5ft 11in), Jordan's energetic style of play was awesome as he is always on the offensive and was the go-to-go man for FUS Rabat.

Jordan was in total control for the 33:16 minutes he was on the court. He really hurt the defense of ABC.

ZAID HEARST (SLAC)

Made his presence on the court a constant and only was out when he got subbed to take a rest. He was the engine room of SLAC that many didn't give a chance but proved more than a handful for Bangui SC.

The 31-year-old Nigerian American scored 23 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists with a 19 efficiency rating.

He was always ready to go headlong to help his side overcome the co-host team but it was not an easy task.

JALONE FRIDAY (FAP)

In the game between FAP of Cameroon and BC Virunga, believed by many to be one-sided, Friday was a standout.

He scored 16 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist for an efficiency rating of 19. He had 4/4 in 3 points shots, 6/9 in field-goals and was on the court for 17:18 minutes.

FIBA