FIBA Africa Zone 3 champions Rivers Hoopers lost their 2019 FIBA Africa Basketball League opener 88-59 to host AS Sale of Morocco at Salle Bouazzaoui, Morocco on Friday, reports Completesports.com.
Rivers Hoopers who got to Sale one hour to tipoff took a 15 point deficit into the second quarter 12-27 and was worsened in the second quarter 24-47.
They however gave a good fight in the third scoring 20-20 apiece, but their efforts to turn the game around proved abortive for the Nigerian representatives as they fell to the defending champions.
Precious Osigbodi scored 12 points in 26 minutes, the only player who finished on double figures for Rivers Hoopers.
for AS Sale, Moroccan international Abderrahim Najah led the way with 17 points and six rebounds for for AS Sale.
Soufiane Rourodu also scoring 16 points, six rebounds and four assists while Zakaria El Masbahi added 12 points, 2017 FIBA Africa Champions Cup MVP Abdelhakim Zouita had 11 points and Mohamed Choua added 10 points and nine rebounds.
Rivers Hoopers will play their next game on Saturday against SLAC of Guinea who also lost the opening game 80-65 to JS Kairouan of Tunisia.
By Johnny Edward
