Etoile Sportive Rades bounced back from Wednesday’s loss to thrash Kano Pillars 97-75 on Friday. Hosts Etoile overcame a slow start in the first seven minutes of the first quarter as they rallied back in the second quarter (45-41).
Six Etoile Sportive players on double digits combined for 73 points in a game mostly dominated by the Tunisians. The squad consisting of key members of the 2017 Afrobasket winning squad Omar Abada, Mohamed Hadidane, Mourad El Mabrouk, Zied Chennoufi, Mokhtar Ghayaza, and former national team captain Amine Rzig all contributed in Etoile’s win.
Top perfomers for Etoile Sportive Rades, Mourad El Mabrouk (15), Averon Mathew ( 14), Mohammed Abbassi (12), Dustin Salisbery and Amie Rzig both had 11 while Mohammed Hadidane added 10 points.
Abdul Yahaya scored a game high 24 points and 9 rebounds, American Jimmy Williams who just joined the squad, contributed 15 points, Azuoma Dike added 13 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, while Dele Ademola led the board with 14 rebounds and scored 9 points.
The Tunisian champions out-scored Pillars in the third quarter (31-15) stretching their lead to 18 points (76-58) going to the fourth quarter which was a huge moutain to surmount for the Nigerian side.
Kano Pillars will have to beat City Oilers of Uganda in their last group game on Saturday for a place in the quarter finals, both teams have won a game each.
Images: fiba.com
