Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers tipped off their Basketball Africa League (BAL) Finals campaign on a disappointing note, falling 89-81 to US Monastir in a fiercely contested seeding fixture at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria on Saturday.
Despite holding a slender half-time lead, the KingsMen were undone by a blistering second-half performance from the Tunisians, who secured the seeding advantage heading into the BAL quarter-finals which begins Monday.
Old Rivals Clash in Fifth BAL Duel
In what was their fifth BAL meeting, the two teams came into the encounter evenly matched with two wins apiece in their previous four showdowns.
But it was US Monastir, ranked third heading into the tournament, who edged out fourth-seeded Rivers Hoopers in the end.
Bright Start for Hoopers
The Port Harcourt-based side, coached by Ogoh Odaudu, started strong, narrowly taking the first quarter 16-14. Their shooting efficiency stood at 35.7% from the field on 14 attempts, although they committed four turnovers to Monastir’s three.
They maintained momentum into the second quarter, winning it 20-18.
While their shooting dipped to 28.6%, they were more disciplined with just one turnover, compared to Monastir’s eight.
At halftime, the Hoopers led 36-32, showing promise against the more decorated North African side.
Monastir Storm Back
However, the second half flipped the script. Monastir returned energized and clinical, shooting a stunning 60% from the field in the third quarter to wrestle control.
The Hoopers defense couldn’t contain their surge, and by the end of the third, the Nigerians trailed 66-62.
The fourth quarter saw Monastir continue their dominance, outscoring Hoopers 23-19 to close out the game with a hard-fought 89-81 victory.
Putney Shines in Defeat
Despite the loss, Raphiael Putney delivered a standout performance for the Hoopers. The 35-year-old forward dropped a game-high 28 points, along with seven rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
He was supported by Madut Akec, who contributed 15 points, two rebounds, an assist, and two steals, and Peter Olisemeka, who completed a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, alongside three assists and one steal.
Monastir’s Team Effort Seals the Win
Monastir’s strength lay in their balanced attack, with five players hitting double figures in scoring.
Babacar Sane led the charge with 22 points and four rebounds, while Patrick Hardy added 17 points and nine assists.
Tarekeyi Edogi (11 points, 8 rebounds), Firas Lahyani (11 points), and Osiris Eldridge (10 points) rounded off the scoring brigade in a cohesive team effort.
The win ensures US Monastir secure a more favorable seeding for the BAL quarter-finals, while Rivers Hoopers will regroup and look to bounce back in their next outing.
With the knockout stage looming, the Hoopers still have a shot at glory—but they’ll need consistency and composure to take it.
Up next for Rivers Hoopers is the Quarter-finals on Monday (today). This game will decide if the KingsMen will roar back to advance to the Semis or come back home.
