Most successful club on the continent, Primeiro de Agosto recorded their first win in the maiden edition of the FIBA Africa Basketball League at the Prince Abdallah Al Faisal Sports Hall in Cairo, Egypt.
Agosto defeated host Al Ahly 86-77 points on Friday to avenge their 2016 group stage loss which inspired Al Ahly to their first ever African title.
Eduardo Mingas scored 18 points and 12 rebounds, Edson Ndoniema had 13 points and 7 asst while Hermenegildo had 10 points and 7rebounds for the 8-time champions.
The Angolans dominated for most part of the game but struggled in the fourth quarter (18-24). Agosto held on to win their first game on return to the continent after going on sabbatical in 2017.
Al Ahly’s Reginald Holmes scored a game high 27 points and 11 rebounds, Ahmed Mohamed had 15 points, 4 rebounds while Quddus Bello contributed 14 points.
Earlier, Rwanda Energy Group Basketball Club (REG) beat Mozambique’s Ferroviaro Beira 86-77 to record their first win on the continent.
Engelbert Bereck scored a double-double 25 points and 13 rebounds, Kenny Gasana had 14 points and 11 rebounds while Kami Kabange had15 points and 5 rebounds.
REG who came into the competition via a wild card became the first team to win a game in the maiden edition of the FIBA Africa Basketball League.
REG led with as much as 20 points at the end of the third quarter (69-49) but surrendered it after Beira made a 15-0 run in opening 6 minutes of the last quarter reducing the gap to 5.
Beira’s Robinson Odoch scored 14 points and 3 rebounds while Helton Ubisse added 19 points and 9 rebounds.
Debutants REG held their nerves in the remaining minutes to record their first ever win in the inaugural FIBA ABL.
Primeiro Agosto will next face REG while Al Ahly will play against Ferroviaro Beira on Saturday.
