Robinson Opong’s Rivers Hoopers Fall To Patriots As BAL Tip Off In Kigali

Robinson Opong (right) tries to stop Patriots captain Kenneth Gasana. Photo by BAL

Sunday, May 16
*Patriots (Rwanda) 83-60 Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria)

Monday, May 17
*Douanes Vs Petroliers
*Zamalek Vs Ferroviario Maputo
*Monastir Vs GNBC


Uganda’s Robinson Opong and his Nigerian club Rivers Hoopers failed to get off the mark after a 83-60 loss to hosts Patriots in the inaugural Basketball Africa League.

Opong who joined the Hoopers to fill Festus Ezeli’s void, played 21:53, scored 5 points and 4 rebounds in a loosing effort.

Brandon Costner scored a game high 20 points, Dieudonne Ndizeye had 13 and Prince Ibeh added 11 as Patriots got off to a good start.

American Rapper Jermaine Cole marked his cameo with three points for Patriots in a tourney watched in 215 countries.

Taren Valdis posted 15 points while former Nets, Raptors and Cavs star Ben Uzoh managed 12 but could not stop a determined Patriots.

Uganda’s Joy Olinga was the game’s Commissioner while renown Journalist Usher Komugisha was the Commentator (ESPN).

Patriots return to Group A action on Tuesday against Madagascar’s GNBC while the Hoopers face Tunisian giants US Monastir on Wednesday.

Did You Know – The Basketball Africa League (BAL) is Africa’s premier men’s basketball league consisting of twelve teams, each qualified through their domestic competition, The inaugural season has 12 club teams from 12 African countries: Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Egypt, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal and Tunisia.

The league is a joint effort between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and FIBA.


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