S.L.A.C and F.A.P keep on rolling in Elite 16 Division West

 

YAOUNDE (Cameroon) - The semifinalists for the Elite 16 Division West have been determined after S.L.A.C and F.A.P kept on rolling in Yaounde on Monday.

In the highly-anticipated game of the day between two teams that featured in the inaugural Basketball Africa League (BAL), Cameroon champions Forces Armees et Police (F.A.P) shut down a combative AS Police 74-66, while Seydou Legacy Athlétique Club, otherwise known as S.L.A.C, advanced to the Last Four of the regional BAL qualifier with a comprehensive 84-54 triumph over Nigerien champions Nigelec BC.

The Nigeriens had a short-lived two-point lead early in the game, but that was the only damage they caused to the highly-motivated S.L.A.C team, who desperately needed to win to stay in the Road to BAL contention after losing 104-89 against Espoir Fukash on Sunday.

Michael D'souza Poole sparked S.L.A.C into the Semi-Finals

The Guineans were ruthless for most of the one-sided encounter, outclassing their opponents in most key aspects of the game. Defensively, S.L.A.C disrupted Nigelec game plan, forcing the Nigerien to rely on individual plays, which really never posed a threat to the Guinean outfit. 

S.L.A.C's Michale D'Souza Poole led the floor with a game-high 27 points, and both Dioumba Mara and Mamadou Keita combined for 30 points off the bench in the wining cause.

Nigelec's three assists in the entire game, and only a six-point contribution from their bench compromised the Nigerien's Road do BAL campaign despite Chibuzo Joseph Njoku's 17 points and eight rebounds. 

For S.L.A.C, the 30-point win - the biggest win margin in the Division West so far - paid tremendous dividends as it not only meant they finished top of Group G2 with a 1-1 and the best point-average, but they also advanced to the Semi-Finals.

On the other hand, Nigelec, who opened their Group G2 action with a 104-91 win over Espoir Fukash, saw their BAL dream come to an abrupt end. 

Both S.L.A.C and Espoir Fukash secured Group G2's two tickets to the Elite 16 Division West Semi-Finals.

Meanwhile, AS Police stepped on the court for the second game of the day in Yaounde, looking to avenge an 87-65 defeat to F.A.P, which ended their BAL campaign in May in Kigali. 

And things looked promising for the Malian champions, who fought throughout the game, but a succession of inexplicable mistakes dashed the Policemen hopes.

Brice Eyaga Bidias' double-double proved vital for F.A.P

The 14 lead-changes registered in the first half were a true reflection of the highly-contested game, which saw Deon Jay Lyle convert two straight three-points and give F.A.P a 14-point lead (57-43) in third quarter, but AS Police never panicked and cut the deficit to just four points with four minutes left in the game. 

Nevertheless, F.A.P realised AS Police's growing confidence, readjusted defensively, a strategy that forced the Bamako-based team to turn the ball over four times in the last four minutes.

Brice Eyaga Bidias, one of the two F.A.P players to score in double figures - alongside Deon Jay Lyle (10 points) - came off the bench to produce a man-of-the-game performance after helping the Yaounde-based team with his 22 points, 11 rebounds and two block shots.

In Wednesday's  Elite 16 Division West Semi-Finals, F.A.P will take on Espoir Fukash while AS Police will go up against S.L.A.C.

FIBA