FUS Rabat hands Cape Town Tigers another defeat in the Basketball Africa League. In a thrilling matchup in this season's Basketball Africa League, FUS Rabat demonstrated their dominance by securing a victory over the Cape Town Tigers.
Last Updated on
March 13, 2024
Fanya Nkengasong
Staff Writer
On the third day of BAL Season 4, contrasting fates awaited the two teams on the court. FUS Rabat, having secured victories in their initial two matches, triumphed over Petro de Luanda in their opener and earned a second win via a forfeit against Burundi's Dynamo.
Meanwhile, the Cape Town Tigers lost both of their matches, falling to Dynamo in their opener and Petro de Luanda in their subsequent game. The South African club is having trouble winning games in the Kalahari Conference and is struggling to find momentum. However, they have had the advantage of playing on their home turf, backed by a passionate home crowd.
"Since the start of the competition, we've been struggling to get off to a good start in our matches, and we find ourselves chasing the score every time," said South Africa coach Florsheim Ngwenya.
The Moroccan club's confidence is soaring, and even the start of Ramadan the day before hasn't affected their morale. The South African coach's instructions resonated with the team, as they responded effectively to their opponents in the first quarter, ending with a 6-point lead, 18-24.
However, the Moroccans quickly gained momentum in the second quarter, surging to a ten-point lead at 33-23 midway through the period. At halftime, FUS maintained their lead with an efficient rotation, scoring 17 points and retaining a ten-point advantage (44-34).
As the game progressed, FUS further widened their lead, with Aliou Diarra showcasing exceptional form. He was an issue on all the scoring levels for the Tigers, netting 14 points in the third quarter alone. Diarra's dominance continued as the Moroccan club capitalised on several turnovers, adding another 13 points to their tally. By the end of the third quarter, FUS had significantly extended their lead, outscoring their opponents 27-10 and holding a commanding 71-44 advantage.
In the final quarter, Said Bouzidi seized the opportunity to rotate his team, ensuring fresh legs on the court. The Moroccan club achieved their objective, securing an impressive 84-58 victory, with a special commendation for Aliou Diarra, who contributed 21 points to the scoreboard.
Even though we won, wehave to admit that we weren't very good from the outside (2-for-21).Fortunately, the pivots weren't up to the task," Said Bouzidi admitted.
