Red hot Association Sportive de Sale on Monday beat Kano Pillars 112-83 points at the majestic Salle Omnisport de Rades, Tunisia.
Abderrahim Najah had 23 points, 5 rebounds as he led four other AS Sale to go past Pillars in a repeat of last year’s bronze medal game. Soufiane Kourodu added 22 points, 9 rebounds, Wayne Arnold also made 22 points while Abdellhakim Zoulta added 17 points and 7 assists while Yaccine Baeri made 15 points in a game hugely dominated by the Tunisians.
AS Sale led by 11points at the end of the first quarter (13-24) but could not maintain the momentum in the second as Pillars rallied back to win the second quarter (29-25) reducing the deficit to 4 points going into the break (42-49).
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Abdul Yahaya scored 22 points and 8 rebounds, Abubakar Usman added 21 points while Azuoma Dike made 15 points and 3 assists for Kano Pillars.
With 5:48 minutes remaining in the third, Pillars were down by 20 points (44-64) and never recovered from it missing 24 of 30 from the arc and 7/24 from the free throw line.
Najah, Kourodu and Zoulta who contributed to the victory were all members of the 2017 Afrobasket squad who lost their third place game to Senegal.
Nigeria’s other representatives, Gombe Bulls will take on another Tunisian opponent, Union Sportive Monastirienne at 8:15pm on Monday.
