Al Ahli Tripoli Outguns APR in 106-102 Classic to Stay Perfect in BAL Nile Conference

Al Ahli Tripoli Outguns APR in 106-102 Classic to Stay Perfect in BAL Nile Conference

For the third game in five, Libyan champions Al Ahli Tripoli crossed the century mark with a hard-fought 106-102 victory over hosts Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR) in a high-scoring clash at the BK Arena in Kigali. 

Debutants Tripoli, who had already booked their slot in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) playoff final schedule for South Africa next month, continued their impeccable shooting to hold off James Edward Maye Jr's side in the first match of the Nile Conference to have both teams surpass the 100-point mark. 

The unbeaten North African-based club enjoyed a 15-point lead early in the second half, but their dominance was challenged as APR kept coming threateningly close. Ultimately, the hosts succumbed to their second consecutive loss in front of an electric home crowd, leaving them with some work to do in their last campaign clash for a chance to advance.
 
50% shooting from range, dropping 17 of 33, made all the difference for Tripoli. Mohamed Sadi barely put a foot wrong as he dropped five of his six attempts, with Jaylen Adams adding four in the win. Six of Fouad Abou Chacra's players scored double digits, with Adams leading the charge with 26, adding eight assists and five rebounds to be named BAL's player of the match.
 
APR shot 11-of-28 from range, dominated the paint 38-32 and had a better contribution off the bench (46-31), but ultimately, Tripoli shared the ball better, finishing 27-20 on the assists. Noel Obadiah led the scoring for APR with 30, five more than Chasson Jermar Randle. Ntore Habimana came a point shy of a rare double-double, having dished 10 assists in the game.

"Getting the 50-50 plays that we made and having Assem Marei on the court made all the difference for us. Playing against the home team, the atmosphere was great and we are grateful for the show. We want to finish strong on Sunday and we have to stay focused to achieve the 6-0 goal," Adams said after the clash. 

It was hot hands all around as Randle got APR off with a trey that received an immediate response from Sadi, and precedents had been set for the opening quarter. The game was tied at five, eight, and ten points, with Deon Thompson's trey giving the North Africans a 13-12 lead halfway through the stanza. 

Randle restored the home side's lead from behind the arc as the see-saw continued. Nigerian International Caleb Agada dropped a three of his own, the sixth in 11 attempts in the opening quarter, to give Tripoli a 21-17 lead. Noel and Randle leveled matters at 21 with 2.08 to play. William Robeyns dropped a trey down the stretch to keep the difference to a basket at 28-26, the hosts trailing. 

In the second quarter, Adams and Marei's experience was on display as Tripoli went on a 15-9 run in the opening five minutes to lead 43-35. Wajdi Dawo and Marei added five for Tripoli's biggest lead so far, 48-35. 

However, Habimana shot from range to begin an APR comeback, as the side scored five in the last minute, including a clutch trey by Robeyns to reduce their dent to four at 53-49 heading to the halftime break. 

Chacra's side opened the second half with three treys, keen to keep their cushion, but APR refused to go as they kept fighting back. The side cut their deficit to three, 63-60, off Noel's reverse layup and further down to two (70-68) with 3.27 to play. 

The remaining part of the stanza was a nightmare for the hosts, as they were locked. They scored just two off the charity stripe while allowing Tripoli to go on a 14-point run for 84-70 after a 31-21 third quarter. 

APR, despite playing for a 32-22 fourth quarter, paid for some costly mistakes in crucial moments as they lost their second consecutive clash. Their hopes for a Playoff slot depend on their performance on the final day of qualification, Sunday, 25 May. 

"We stuck to the game plan but had some lapses on defense, This is a good team and if you mess against them they will punish you. They are a high-volume shooting team and they were able to make the open shots. Despite the loss, there are lessons to be picked here as we focus on closing it out properly and qualify,"Habimana said after the clash.

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[Photography Courtesy of The BAL]