Hoops battle Cote d’Iviore for quarterfinal berth

Fiba Afro basket ChampionshipLast 16, todayRwanda  vs  Cote d’Ivoire  11.30a.mTunisia   vs   South AfricaSenegal   vs   MadagascarMali   vs   Morocco The national men’s basketball team takes Cote d’Ivoire on the second day of the round of 16 for a place in the quarter-finals of the ongoing 26th FIBA Africa Championship in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011
The like of Hamza Ruhezamihigo (R) and Mathew Miller (L) will have to be on top of their game if Rwanda is to reach quarterfinals on the expense of Ivory Coast. The New Times / File

Fiba Afro basket Championship
Last 16, today
Rwanda  vs  Cote d’Ivoire  11.30a.m
Tunisia   vs   South Africa
Senegal   vs   Madagascar
Mali   vs   Morocco

The national men’s basketball team takes Cote d’Ivoire on the second day of the round of 16 for a place in the quarter-finals of the ongoing 26th FIBA Africa Championship in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Rwanda, who lost their first two games before winning the last group game, will have their hands full against the two-time African champions.

Vaceslav Kavedzija’s side reached the knock out stage after edging out Togo 87-67. The Hoops won the first three quarters by 27-8, 24-10, 21-23 and lost the last quarter 15-26.

Herbert Gasana led the floor with 19 points, 9 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 steal, forward Robert Thomson contributed 18 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assist and 2 steal with Bradley Cameron grabbing a double of 13 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals to earn Rwanda its first win of the championship.

The victory earned Rwanda third spot in Group D with 4 points despite earlier losses to Central African Republic and Tunisia.

Cote d’Ivoire finished second in Group C with four points after recording a win over South Africa and two losses over Cameroon and Egypt respectively.

In other matches scheduled to be played today; Tunisia play South Africa; Senegal take on hosts Madagascar and Mali will complete the day’s action with a date against Morocco.

The tournament serves as a qualifying championship for teams to participate in the quadrennial Fiba World championship and the Olympic basketball tournament in London next year.

Ends