TUN - National team stars lead Sahel to successful title defense

SOUSSE (Tunisian League/Olympics) – Rampant Tunisian giants Etoile Sportive du Sahel clinched their fifth national league title with a 75-57 win in Game 2 of the play-off finals at Stade Nabuelien.

Tunisia international Toumi Zied had a game-high 25 points while his national team colleague Macram Ben Romdhane led all players with 15 rebounds.

US point guard Willie Kemp handed out eight assists for the defending champions.

Zied and Ben Romdhane are likely to represent Afrobasket 2011 champions Tunisia at the 2012 London Games.

Etoile Sportive du Sahel, who had won Game 1, 70-67, also prevailed in the African Club Championship this season.

They cruised to glory in that competition in the Moroccan city of Rabat in December last year, hammering Angolan giants Primeiro de Agosto 82-60 in the final, so the victory over Nabuelien has given them two trophies on the campaign.

The club has finished the national league with only two losses, both against ES Rades (one of them in the play-offs).

Their third loss of the season came through Angolan side Primeiro de Agosto in the qualification round of the African Clubs Cup, before Sahel turned things around and clinched the African Clubs trophy.

Etoile Sportive du Sahel may not be done winning trophies this season.

They can cap a terrific year by winning the Tunisia Cup.

Etoile Sportive du Sahel play the semi-final on Saturday against C Cheminots.

Thumbs-Up From Romdhane

“We had a hard season, playing so many games, but in the end it paid off,” Macram Ben Romdhane said to FIBA.com.

“The club had some management issues that left us concerned, but things are now under control.

“After the Tunisia Cup, we are having a week’s break before starting our Olympic preparations.”

Etoile Sportive du Sahel’s Bosnian coach Dragan Petricevic, who is in his first season working in Tunisian basketball, had some interesting remarks after team’s triumph.

He said to fiba.com: “Overall, I am pleased with my experience in Tunisia, and the level of the league here is quite high.

“For next season this team needs some improvement if the club wishes to retain all of our achievements.

“It will not be easy, as other teams will probably be seeking to do better.

“From my point of view, in order to stay on top of Africa, Tunisians need to invest more in the youth basketball.

“Egypt is dominating the youth categories.

“Tunisian young players should be protected from playing on outdoor courts and its surface. Some may damage their knees and ankles, and others may end their careers in their early twenties.

“It is necessary to do something to protect the future of Tunisian basketball, which is living an extraordinary phase.”

This is Etoile Sportive du Sahel’s second national league title in a row.

FIBA