TUN/TOG - Big Ben shows the way

ANTANANARIVO (Afrobasket) - Macram Ben Romdhane came off the bench and led Tunisia to a convincing 103-56 victory over Togo on Thursday in the first game of Day 2 at the AfroBasket in the Palais des Sports.

Just 22, power forward Romdhane played like a veteran and finished with 20 points and eight rebounds.

The game was effectively over by half-time when the north Africans led 58-29.

It was a performance that veteran Tunisia national team coach Adel Tlatli was well aware of.

"He's a young, good player who may become professional if he is given a chance to do so," Tlatli said to fiba.com.

Tlatli added that despite his player's game-high performance, Ben Romdhane could "do better. Yes, he scored 20 points, in this game. Wait and you'll see how good he's. He'll play even better in the next games."

Togo caused little trouble to the Tunisians, a team that played at last year's FIBA World Championship in Turkey and even drew praise from USA national team boss Mike Krzyzewski.

Romdhane averaged 12 points per game last summer in Istanbul.

Tlatli had to admit that Thursday's encounter was "an easy game" for his side.

"We were superior both technically and physically," said Tlatli, whose center Salah Mejri had 10 points and four of the team's seven blocks.

"We know that Togo is not Nigeria, Angola, Cameroon or Central Africa Republic.

"But our performance today [Thursday] is more or less what we can do."

The Tunisian coach knows the ultimate accomplishment would be for Tunisia to earn a trip to the London Games.

That will happen if they win the gold medal.

"The Olympics is a dream for basketball fans in our country," Tlatli said.

"For now, we are looking at the podium places in Madagascar."

Tunisia play Rwanda on Saturday on Day 2 of the Group D.

Tlatli described the Rwandans as a "a good team with three or four American-born players, who are good ones."

Rwanda, however, suffered an 89-61 defeat to Central African Republic in the day's second game.

Julio Chitunda
FIBA