In a dramatic upset, the Cape Town Tigers clawed their way to a thrilling 91-88 overtime victory over heavily favored FUS Rabat in the BAL quarterfinals on Sunday night at Kigali’s BK Arena.
Despite entering the matchup as significant underdogs (seeded eighth), the Tigers displayed remarkable resilience throughout the contest. They rallied from a ten-point deficit late in the fourth quarter (80-70) and even faced a potential defeat with just two seconds remaining. However, a buzzer-beating shot by Samkelo Cele forced overtime, sending the electrifying crowd into a frenzy.
The Tigers’ composure under pressure proved crucial. Despite facing foul trouble for key players like Cartier Diarra, Ngor Manyang, and Abdoulaye Ndoye, they held their ground and remained in contention for the coveted BAL championship.
While Cape Town’s Dhieu Deng exited the game with an injury midway through the fourth quarter, his earlier contribution of 13 points proved valuable. Cele emerged as the game’s top scorer with a stellar 30 points, ably supported by Cartier Diarra (15 points) and Ngor Manyang (13 points) off the bench.
For FUS Rabat, the number one seed, the loss marked a disappointing end to their championship aspirations. Despite a valiant effort from Aliou Diarra (18 points, 16 rebounds, 4 blocks), and a promising performance by teenager Mohamed Sylla (15 points, 11 rebounds), their challenge fell short.
Cape Town Tigers players celebrating during their BAL Quarterfinal clash against FUS Rabat on Sunday May 26 at the BK Arena, Rwanda
“We knew there are no easy games at this stage,” reflected FUS Rabat guard Soufiane Benmhine, who chipped in with 10 points. “We had beaten them twice in South Africa, but they turned the tables here in Kigali. It’s a tough loss, but we move forward. We have the Moroccan Championship to fight for.”
This historic victory for the Cape Town Tigers, their first-ever BAL semifinal appearance, was a moment of immense pride for the team. “This is huge for South African basketball and for the Tigers organization,” said Nkosinathi Sibanyoni, the Tigers’ center who dominated the boards with a record-breaking 25 rebounds and added 16 points. “We were outplayed twice before, but this time, we focused on rebounding and scoring effectively.”
The Cape Town Tigers now face Al Ahly Ly in the semifinals, while FUS Rabat heads home with a 4-2 record for the season.
Photo: BAL, X
