D'Agosto win Angola BIC Basket title

LUANDA - Primeiro D'Agosto on Tuesday beat rival Recreativo do Libolo 93-83 in Game 5 of the best-of-seven Finals of the BIC Basket to become the 2015-16 Angolan champion.

With the title, D'Agosto - Africa's most successful club with eight African Champions Cup (ACC) titles - secured a place at the upcoming FIBA Africa Zone 6 qualifier for the ACC 2016.

Angolan international Hermenegildo Dos Santos sparked the National Army funded club with game-highs 23 points and 8 assists, Islando Manuel added 22 points, while former AfroBasket MVP Carlos Morais’ team-high 20 points weren’t good enough to keep Libolo in contention.

Playing as hosts at the sellout Victorino Cunha Gym in Luanda, D’Agosto stepped on the floor on desperation mode to deny star-studded Libolo.

Dos Santos, a potential pick to represent Angola at the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia (4-9 July), was named the competition's Most Valuable Player.

Dos Santos (ANG) was named the 2015-16 BIC Basket MVP

Spaniard Ricard Casas, who joined D’Agosto last summer, was named BIC Basket head coach of the year.

"It was a tough competition," Casas said after the game. "Despite the adversities that we faced throughout the season, we managed to stay focused and won the title with merit.

"We had lost two major trophies - Angolan Cup and African Champions Cup (ACC) - we had the obligation to win the national championship."

This was D'Agosto's 18th national title, and second since 2013.

Final standings of 2015-16 BIC Basket

1. Primeiro D'Agosto
2. Recreativo do Libolo
3. Petro de Luanda
4. InterClube de Luanda
5. Marinha de Guerra
6. Universidade Lusiadas
7. ASA
8. Vila Clotilde
9. Progresso do Sambizanga
10. Sporting de Benguela 

FIBA