NAIROBI (Kenya) - They came into the East Division Elite 16 on a 5-0 run but Zambia's Matero Magic had nothing on Burundi's Urunani, falling 87-34 in a one-sided encounter.
The Mamadou Pabi Gueye-led side dominated in a game that saw Jean-Jacques Boissy give a man-of-the-match performance on 29 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.
Mohamed Doumbya was the side's second best scorer with 17, coming within a rebound for a double-double. Nkosinathi Sandie Sibanyoni finished with a game-high 26 in efficiency after picking a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Matero Magic's charge was led by Donovan Lamont Jones who scored 10, adding 6 assists.
"It was a tough game," Matero Magic's Saul Phiri admits. "They came ready to play while we started really slow and they had momentum the entire game. We have to keep our heads up and prepare for the next match. We still have two more to play in the group and we will keep positive, learn from our mistakes and play better."
Phiri says this is definitely a wake up call for the Zambians who came into the Elie 16 on an unbeaten run in the Group Phase. "We didn't expect anything like this but one has to anticipate such. A lot did not go our way our shots did not drop. We will regroup and come out fighting for the next."
Phiri, however, believes it still is early days and while this is a setback, they have it within themselves to make a comeback.
"This is just the opening match. It is not a final or even a knockout. We have some work to do but I believe we are still in this for the win," he concluded.
Meanwhile, Boissy is ready to push Urunani, to what he says would be a historic fit for the side after losing in the Elite 16 semis on their debut in 2022. Last year they missed the Road to BAL slot to Dynamo in their local league.
"We did have much to scout them (Matero) ahead of time hence the slow start. Once we got our rhythm going we were able to execute. Despite the win, we still need to work on our transition defense, rebounding, turn the ball over less and just focus on playing and not on the officiating. As the competition advances, however, we will get better on these," Boissy, who finished with 19 in efficiency after turning the ball over eight times, explained.
The 24-year-old says a maiden BAL ticket for Urunani would mean a lot for each player, adding they are working as a unit to achieve the feat automatically.
FIBA