KIBAHA (Tanzania) - Despite leading the match for more than 26 minutes, Seychelles champions Beau Vallon Heat fell 65-59 to hosts JKT to exit the Road to BAL (Basketball Africa League) East Division Group D qualifiers winless.
JKT, on the other hand, picked their first win in three matches.
The opening stages of the clash were, expectedly, hotly contested with five lead changes for a one-point game (14-13) with 1.33 to play. Skipper Timmy Adam was, however, left to roam free, dropping three consecutive treys in the last 44 seconds to extend the Islanders' lead to 23-15 in the opening quarter
Khris Bouchereau and Damien Chang-Time combined with Adam yet again to making it 31-16, two minutes into the second quarter, Amin Mkosa and Jacob Linus Mganga cutting the lead to a single digit at 31-22, a difference that remained as the two sides headed to the half-time break with Beau Vallon leading 38-29.
Mkosa came off the locker room guns blazing, going on a seven-point run, Omary Ndula adding a basket to tie the game at 42 halfway through the quarter and it was game on! Beau Vallon did try to pull away again but the hosts refused to go, the quarter ending with the two separate by a point at 51-50.
A 15-8 run for the hosts in the final period sealed the win for Christian Mwakingili's men.
Turning Point: Mkosa led the comeback on resumption for the second half, a run that gave JKT the momentum to fight for victory. Restricting Beau Vallon to just eight in the final quarter also helped their case.
Game Hero: Staying on the floor for 39:31 minutes, Fotius Ngaiza Felesian paid his coach's faith in him with a game-high 26 in efficiency, scoring 15 to complete a double-double that included 19 rebounds, 13 on defense. Stats Don’t Lie: Nine lead changes and six ties go to show the intensity of the match, especially in the second half. JKT dominated the paint 32-10, adding 12-0 more on fast breaks for victory. Bottom Line: Beau Vallon Heat's third attempt at qualification ends in four defeats while JKT hold slight hopes of advancing. They, however, need to win their clash against Nairobi City Thunder on Sunday with a big margin to go through.
They Said: "Beau Vallon Heat were good on the paint and beyond the arc and we had to find a way to stop their good start. Our game plan for the second half worked and we are happy to have picked this win. We still have a game to play, against Nairobi City Thunder. It will be a tough match but we have a game plan and will push to end on a positive note," JKT's Mkosa. "This is a match we should have won. At one point we had a 15-point lead but that is nothing in a game. We needed to be cautious in the second half but we kept making mistakes and got punished for it. It is not the championship we had hoped for but valuable lessons have been picked. We hope to come back stronger for the next one," Beau Vallon Heat skipper Timmy Adam.
FIBA