ANG – Interclube, Petro roll to opening day victories in Angola

LUANDA - (FIBA Africa Champions Cup) - Euclides Camacho came off the bench to lead Interclube de Luanda to a 77-53 victory against APR of Rwanda in the opening game of group A at the FIBA Africa Champions Cup in the northern Angolan city of Cabinda on Thursday night.

Camacho poured in 16 points and has was supported by teammate Lifetu Selengue’s work on the boards – he grabbed seven rebounds. For APR side, Prince Newari and Daniel Okwirry each scored eight points.

Interclube, who finished runners-up in 2005, led 40-33 at half-time and but it wasn’t until after the break that they took command.

Manuel Sousa "Necas", the Interclube boss, said: "Yes, the third period was decisive as I called a time-out and we changed our defensive strategy.
3
“We forced APR to make some mistakes and we improved our offensive game,” he said to FIBA.com.

On Friday, Interclube de Luanda face 2006 runner-up Primeiro de Agosto, who are attempting to win the title they lost to rivals Petro Atletico de Luanda in 2004.

"Necas" played down any fears ahead of that game.

"They are only the best African team, but it does not mean that we will be afraid of them. We will fight to oppose their superiority,” he said.

This was the only game of Group A on Thursday, with the late arrival of some teams disrupting the schedule.

The game between ASB Kauka of DR Congo and Primeiro was rescheduled for December 16, as well as the postponed fixture pitting the sides MBC of Guinea against Aspac of Benin.

In Huambo, fans watched two games instead of the three initially scheduled. The game between Stade Malien of Mali against Niger Potters was been postponed and will be played on Sunday.

Regarded as one of the best African teams, Abidjan Basketball Club (ABC) smashed Mozambican side Ferroviario da Beira 89-22 it the opening-game of Group B.

ABC's Onate Stephane poured 16 points, while four Ferroviario players scored four points apiece.

In the second game, defending champions Petro Atletico de Luanda began their title defense with an 85-53 victory over BC Ontra of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

At half-time, Petro Atletico de Luanda led 41-21.

BC Ontra's Fresta Malemba poured in 21 points, but that wasn’t enough to overtake Petro’s duo of Horacio Francisco and Carlos Morais, who scored 17 and 15 points, respectively.

Meanwhile, Petro Atletico de Luanda might encounter some difficulties later in the tournament as their new signing Randall Jackson won’t appear in the tournament due to "bureaucratic reasons", according to Petro coach Alberto Carvalho.

The game between Niger Potters against Stade Malien has been rescheduled for Sunday.

Julio Chitunda
FIBA