Randriamampionona stars as COSPN stun Ferroviario da Beira
The group remains open ahead of final group matches that will see the policemen play Harare-based JBC while Beira take on City Oilers.
JOHANNESBURG (South Africa) - Armed with an arsenal of treys, Club Omnisport de La Police Nationale's (COSPN) forward Elly Randriamampionona shot from all cylinders to power the Malagasy policemen to an 88-57 win over two-time Basketball Africa League (BAL) participants Ferroviario da Beira.
The Mozambique champions came into the match off a 75-55 win over JBC in game one while COSPN had lost to City Oilers 81-76 in the dying seconds of the clash and needed to redeem themselves.
A 17-point performance for Elly in the first half of the match gave his side a 21-point advantage as Beira struggled to protect their rim from the trey master.
The first quarter had ended with the Indian Ocean Islanders leading 22-15 but they pulled away in the second stanza with a 28-14 show to continue their dominance.
Kenneti Mendes, who had done pointless the entire first half, orchestrated a third quarter comeback attempt, dropping 10 in an 18-9 lead for the Mozambique side to cut their deficit to 12 heading to the final period.
Samuel Adewunmi who did much of the creating in the initial three quarters took over the scoring boots in the final one, scoring 11 to take his tally to 22 as he helped his side go 29-10 ahead for the win.
Elly Randriamampionona
TURNING POINT: It was a one-way street for Julien Chaignot's charges with a single change in lead early on in the clash.
HERO: Guarding Elly, especially from behind the arc was, as difficult as his surname is to pronounce [for non-Malagasy speaking], shooting 7 of 13, converting all his 3 free-throws and adding a basket on the paint to emerge as COSPN's hero of the day. He added 4 rebounds, as many assists, 2 assists and 2 blocks.
The 26-year-old combined with Adewunmi for 48 of the team's 88 points. Bishop Coulter added the game's only double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
COSPN have boosted their chances of reaching the Semi-Finals
STATS DON'T LIE: COSPN's bench deserves a pat as they contributed 23 against 7 as the side also dominated fast breaks (12-6), second chance points (15-9) and on the paint (38-22).
Seven (7) turnovers for Ferroviario in the final period added to their misery as did the 6 balls stolen by COSPN.
BOTTOM LINE: The group remains open ahead of final group matches that will see the policemen play Harare-based JBC while Beira take on City Oilers.
WHAT THEY SAID: "The Madagascar team played great defense and brought a lot of intensity into the match and we couldn't respond. Going into the final group match, we still have a chance at qualification if we can make up for the points difference.
"We have to remain focused and head into the match prepared for anything as the physicality in today's game seemed to catch us by surprise as we are not used to this in these games," Luis Lopez, head coach Ferroviario da Beira.
"This win puts us in prime position to qualify for the Last Four and we will bring the same confidence to the court. I am happy with the team's performance today. They fought for each other and we celebrate this victory as a unit regardless of who put up what numbers," Julien Chaignot, head coach COSPN.
FIBA