Rivers HOOPERS BOOK BAL 2025 PLAYOFF SPOT

The HOOPPERS Rivers officially go to the Playoffs of the 2025 Africa Basketball League (BAL) after a 79-71 sandy victory over the Kalahari conference, hosts of Rabat Fuat on Thursday night at the Prince Moulay Abdellah sports complex.

The victory not only avenged its painful departure from Bal 2024, but also confirmed the place of Al Ittihad Alexandria in the tie, with both sides now sitting at the top of the classification, to Ittihad with 4-0, and the Nigerian champions with 3-1.

For Hoopers, the road to Pretoria is paved with pain, balance and persistence. After delivering an early 10 -point deficit, the Kingsmen made their way back, trusting in Madut Akec’s plays, Peter Oliseemeka and a monstrous night of Raphael Putney.

Fus Fire First, but the Hoopers responded

A strident Moroccan crowd roared Fus Rabat in a rapid start of 8-3, but the hoopers had no intention of folding. Shamba Maxi Munanga kept the marker marked, while Putney and the adolescent phenomenon Ike David Ugonna provided a strong inner presence.

The tide turned in the first quarter, ending 20-19 in favor of the Hoopers, but it was a balancing battle from there.

The hosts responded in the second painting, with Mouhamadou Diagne directing the painting and John Jordan orchestrating the crime. A 10 -point advantage opened for fus with two remaining minutes in the middle, but the hooters refused to fashed.

Two clutch plays, the Olisemeka basket and Putney’s timbre, hitting three, reduced the 36-31 gap in the part-time.

Putney Dunks, Akec Domina, Amayo turns on

Putney established the pattern at the beginning of the third quarter with a vicious overturned to make it a three -point game. Moments later, Olisemeka level it to 38-38, and Kelvin Amayo gave the Hoopers the advantage for the first time from the first quarter.

The third ended with fus still ahead 58-53, but the impulse had clearly changed.

Amayo illuminated the last quarter with four fast points to tie again, and Akec came to life with crucial cubes under pressure.

A little less than three minutes to the end, Munanga nailed a huge triple to give space to breathe at 71-65.

After a waiting time, Yacine Baeri drained a three for FUS, and the crowd exploded. But Amayo and Olisemeka responded with a length of alley that absorbed the air of the sand.

At the other extreme, Putney stood up, literally and figuratively, which was heading to fus any late miracle.

“Away, it is together” – the hoopers remain locked

Madut Akec, who led all scorers with 17 points, revealed the mentality behind the resurgence of the second half of the Houperers.

“We were moving away. That’s what we told ourselves … squeeze to the lead, stay together and continue defending, keep bouncing,” Akec said after the game.

The Rivers Hoopers coach, Ogoh Ogoudu, praised the team’s preparation and mental strength:

“We explain to the team [FUS]And what they could do and what they couldn’t do. In general, he went to our determination. “

“It was all who wanted this game more. I think we wanted this game more, because it puts us in a golden position in South Africa.”

Putney the protector

Although he scored fewer points than AKEC, Raphiael Putney, 34, was the emotional engine of the team. He anchored the defense, hit great shots and played with the fire of a man on a mission.

“Each game is a war, and I deal like this,” Putney told journalists. “We have grown a lot since last season. This year, it’s not just about competing, we are here to win.”

What follows?

Rivers Hoopepers (3-1) remains second at the Kalahari conference, with a game to play before changing the approach to Pretoria in June.

Rabat Fus (1-3) and Stade Malien (0-4) now they must nervously expect the result of the other conference games in May to see if they describe as one of the best teams in the third place.