APR advances to BAL 2025 semi-finals

Quarter-finals

APR 104-73 Rivers Hoopers

APR has made it to the semi-finals of BAL 2025 for the first time. The Rwandan champions achieved the feat after overwhelming Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers 104-73 on Monday, June 9 at SunBet Arena.

The team will face Al Ahli Tripoli in the semi-finals on Wednesday, with the winner advancing to Saturday’s final and the loser heading to Friday’s third-place playoff.

It was already apparent in the first quarter that this was unlikely to be Rivers Hoopers’ evening.

Having started well in their 3rd-4th seeding game against US Monastir and then collapsed in the second half to lose, the KingsMen looked more similar to the team that had played the closing stages of that game than the one that had started it.

Despite some bright moments from Madut Akec, shots were generally not falling for the KingsMen in the first quarter and they trailed 24-11 by the end of it.

Raphiael Putney attempted to inspire a second quarter fightback with three threes in quick succession. However, APR adapted to the moment as a team and marked him tightly to avoid further damage.

Meanwhile, as APR boxed out at one end, their center Youssou Ndoye did his share of damage at the other – as did Aliou Diarra and Nuni Omot, who appeared to be finding his feet in the team after a relatively quiet start by his high standards in the victory over Petro de Luanda which saw the Rwandan side clinch the fifth seed.

The shots were flying in from all angles, with guards Chasson Randle and Obadiah Noel also contributing. With the last shot of the half, Omot fired in a two-point jumpshot to send APR into the break 57-32 up.

The final quarter was played at a relatively slow pace, with the KingsMen unable to change their fate, which had long since effectively been sealed.

Diarra (20 points & 10 rebounds) and Randle (15 points, 10 assists & 3 steals) each picked up double-doubles, while Omot led the scoring for APR with 21.

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