TUN - Ben Romdhane leads club to African crown

Rabat (African Clubs Championship/Olympics) - After helping Tunisia take gold for the first time ever at the FIBA Africa Championship this past summer, Makrem Ben Rondhane led by example once again in helping Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel claim a maiden African Clubs Championships title.

The 22-year-old Tunisian international poured 21 points in an 82-60 victory over defending champions Primeiro de Agosto of Angola in the Moroccan region of Sale.

He disrupted the Angolans' game and, much like in Madagascar this past August, was named the MVP of the 12-team tournament, featuring the very best from the African continent.

New signing Willie Kemp added 17 points for the Tunisian champions while Cape Verde international Mario Correia led all scorers with 22 points in Primeiro de Agosto's losing cause.

Dragan Petricevic's men led 40-32 at the break before the title-holders fought back in the third period for a 47-45 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

However, the Tunisians turned it on in the final frame and in it was their day to celebrate.

It is is the first time a Tunisian side lifts the African Clubs Championship trophy.

In 2008, Etoile du Sahel finished runner-up to Primeiro de Agosto, when the tournament was held in the Tunisian region of Sousse. This time the Angolan powerhouse missed the opportunity to win its sixth African clubs trophy.

After losing to the new champions, hosts Moroccan AS Sale handed Angolan champions Petro de Luanda a 80-75 defeat in the bronze medal game.

Final standings of the African Clubs Championship for Men:
1 Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia)
2 Primeiro de Agosto (Angola)
3 AS Sale (Morocco)
4 Petro de Luanda (Angola)
5 BC Mazembe (DR Congo)
6 CR Alhoceima (Morocco)
7 Recreativo do Libolo (Angola)
8 Union Bank (Nigeria)
9 Al Ahly (Libya)
10 Urunani (Burundi)
11 Royal Hoopers (Nigeria)
12 Malabo Kings (Equatorial Guinea)

Julio Chitunda

FIBA