Luck and determination played a big role in the game between Cooperative Bank basketball club of Kenya and Inter-club basketball club of Congo Brazzaville in a group-B played Monday night in the 24th FIBA Africa Champions Club for Men in Kigali, Rwanda.
The two factor, however, worked in favour of Interclub-club who were not ready to drop a second straight game in the preliminary after its Sunday 115-74 points lose to defending champion beating the Cooperative Bank side to their game winning the first two quarters by 24-19 and 22-08 points to take a 46-27 lead going into the break.
The Kenyan club-side tried to fight back at the resumption of play in the third quarter and fought quarter but their effort could only yield them a 26-16 and 22-21 points win to bow to the more determined Brazzaville-based side Interclub by 83-75 points.
Inter-club Bertrand Boukinda proved a worthy reliance for his side when he posted a competition high of 32 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals, Ghislain Elenga added 16 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds to suppress the Cooperative Bank side.
John Okwako led the Cooperative Bank side with 28 points, 4 steals and 3 rebounds while the duo of Allan Ouma and Eugene Genga added 12 and 10 points each.
Inter-club will take to the floor on game Day-3 Tuesday against Warriors basketball club of Uganda at 17h00 while Cooperative Bank must be at its best when it face ASPAC basketball club of Benin Republic at 19h00 Tuesday.