Julius Mbaraga
19 December 2008
Kigali — APR's indomitable lions were reduced to harmless cubs after Wednesday's fatal 61-75 defeat against ASA of Angola in Tunisia.
The defeat coupled with Swallows (Togo)'s 80-56 win over DR. Congo's Lupopo completely shattered APR's faint hopes of progressing into the quarter finals of the 23rd Fiba-Africa Club Championship.
Even with a game in hand against Lupopo, the national league champions needed a good result against the Angolans to guarantee their qualification.
The defeat was APR's third in the tournament after previous defeats against Etoile du Shale of Tunisia and Kano Pillars of Nigeria and Cliff Owuor will be furious on the account that the club was drawn in a relatively easier Group (A).
The Zone 5 Champions will now turn their focus to classification games in a bid to finish inside the top ten. Twelve clubs turned up for the competition which merges Africa's top basketball clubs.
Quarter-finals action is expected to start today. Teams through to quarters include Etoile du Sahel, Kano Pillars, ASA and Swallows from Group A and defending champions Primero de Agosto, El Shabab Arabi, Union Bank and Stade Nabeulien from Group B.
In the classification category, four teams are in contention; APR, Lupopo, Onatra of DR. Congo and Back of Guinea.
Fiba-Africa Club Championship (Tunisia)
Teams through to ¼ finals
Group A: ESS (TUN), Kano Pillars (NGR), ASA (ANG), Swallows (TGO)
Group B: Primero (ANG), El Shabab (LYB), Stade Nabeulien (TUN), Union Bank (NGR).
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