Ambitious REG need to pass FAP test for BAL glory

Rwanda Energy Group (REG) have made it clear that staying in contention for the Basketball Africa League (BAL) title is their utmost goal, but first, they need to pass a tough Quarter-Finals test.

On Saturday, May 21, REG will go up against a resolute and combative Forces Armee e Police (FAP) of Cameroon, a team that has challenged some of the continent’s heavyweights on a number of occasions.

The winner of the clash between REG and FAP advances to the semis while the losing team will end their 2022 BAL journey.

Unlike FAP, REG are making their BAL debut this season. And they hope to make the most of their homecourt advantage.

The Kigali-based club insist they have done the homework the right way and feel prepared for the task ahead.

REG returned to Kigali early this week after a week-long training camp in Istanbul, Turkey, where they beat the  national teams of Qatar and Kuwait, but lost to Bahrein. 

NEW ADDITIONS AND SQUADS’ ADJUSTMENTS

And to make sure things go according to plan, REG signed sharpshooter Kenneth Gasana, a Rwandan international player who featured for Patriots BB in the inaugural BAL.

In addition to Gasana, REG signed Mouhamadou Ndoye who replaced DR Congo’s Pitchou Manga, a 33-year-old center who made his presence felt in REG’s 77-74 win over US Monastir.

Ndoye is a seven-footer center who played college basketball for the Texas A&E Commerce.

The 32-year-old has featured for the Austin Spurs in the NBA G League.

Although FAP kept the core of the squad that finished fourth in the Nile Conference last month in Cairo, the Cameroonian champions brought back Yves-Louis Ngaransou who featured in the inaugural BAL for FAP.

To complete their recruiting process, FAP added Senegalese Abou Diallo and Charles Minlend Jr. who last played for the Louisville University.

HOW THEY QUALIFIED TO THE BAL FINALS

FAP enjoyed a successful Road to BAL campaign, having won all six games played at home in Yaounde.

The Cameroonian champions won two of their five games in Nile Conference to qualify for the Kigali showdown.

In Cairo, FAP gave hosts Zamalek and Petro de Luanda some hard time despite falling short. 

Francois Enyegue’s team could have finished 3-2 in the Nile, but allowing a Cape Town Tigers’ 3-pointer with 2.2 seconds left, which eventually determined the 73-70 defeat, is an experience FAP refuses to repeat.

FAP, who reached the BAL Quarter-Finals last year, are looking to do better, no matter who they come across with in Kigali.

To return home after just one game is out FAP’s intentions.

REG qualified to the BAL regular season automatically.

Despite a 92-86 defeat to Dakar Universite Club (DUC), REG regrouped just in time to win the conference thanks to wins over AS Sale, Ferroviario da Beira, SLAC and US Monastir.

WHAT THE NUMBERS SAY ABOUT REG AND FAP

It’s not rocket scient to realise how aggressive FAP can be, especially in the painted area.

With 43.4 boards per game, FAP register the highest number of rebounds per game than any other team in 2022 the BAL playoffs. That’s six more rebounds per game than REG.

However, it’s in the offensive end that FAP and REG look totally different teams.

While REG averages 86 points per game, the Yaounde-based have scored only 68 points per game in the Nile.

Scoring from long-range is something FAP need to do better in Kigali as they averaged 22 percent from behind the arc compared to REG’s 37 percent.

One key aspect of REG’s game is their fast-paced ball movement, which resulted in 24 assists per game against FAP’s 12.

POTENTIAL OUTCOME

If the figures shown above are anything to rely on, then REG might come up victorious in the Quarter-Final clash against FAP. 

WHAT PLAYERS SAID ABOUT THE BAL FINALS

FAP forward Brice Bidias averaged 12 points and 7 rebounds. He said: “We are going there to do better than last year. Our goal is to reach, at least the semi-finals. To reach to final would be better and to win the Championship would be great.

[To achieve that goal] “We need to play collectively, improve defensively and be more efficient offensively.” 

Joel Almeida averaged a team-high of 13.6 points per game. He stated: “We are going there and surprise people.”

Cleveland Thomas Jr. led REG in scoring with averaging a team-high of 19 points per game.

“To win the championship. That’s been the goal since the start. But our mindset is one game at a time.”