BY OSTINE ARINAITWE
Fiba Africa club championship
Yesterday
ASPAC 68-52 Inter-club
Mazembe 75-74 Kano Pillars
APR 69-84 Petro
Petro Atletico’s three pointers proved to be the difference yesterday when the Angolan side edged APR 84-69 in the Fiba Africa Club Championship final group stage game at Amahoro indoor stadium court.
Both clubs had already qualified for the quarters having won their first three matches, but the final game was all about who would take the bragging rights of finishing first in Group A.
The Luanda based side won the first quarter 25-17, but APR backed by a fully packed crowd which included top Government officials recovered to win the second and third quarters 18-17 and18-15 respectively.
The Angolans capitalized on their shooting prowess to win the last quarter 27-16 ending the Indomitable Lions good run.
Despite missing out on toping Group A, Cliff Owuor, APR’s Kenyan coach refused to blame his players for the defeat and instead said his players were done by their lack of using three pointers.
“They (Atletico) are very experienced players who managed to stand the pressure during the game when our fans were booing and heckling them. “Their three pointers hurt us dearly, when we did not have any reply. But am happy the margin was not big, because we really played a very good side,” Owuor told Times Sport.
In other games ASPAC of Benin defeated Inter-club of Congo Brazzaville 68-52, while Mazembe saw off Kano Pillars of Nigeria 75-74.
Action continues tomorrow with the quarterfinals. The draw will be made today.