Can SLAC bounce back against REG?

Twenty four hours after being outplayed by US Monastir, Guinea champions SLAC face another tough test on Wednesday when they take on Rwanda Energy Group (REG) in the sixth game of the Sahara Conference in Dakar.

REG have shown a tremendous tenacity to start their Basketball Africa League (BAL) campaign after securing a hard-fought win against AS Salé on Sunday, but can Robert Pack’s team continue to climb the ladder for a playoff spot in their home town of Kigali in May?

So far, things look good for REG (1-0).

The East African side return to the basketball court after a 3-day break, and they should have fresher legs than SLAC, who were forced to work extra hard in a 76-55 defeat to Monastir on Tuesday.

“This team is limitless,” said REG point guard Adonis Filer when asked about his team’s capacity in the Sahara Conference.

Can SLAC (1-1) bounce back against REG?

SLAC forward Dane Miller Jr preferred to “treat one game at a time.”

Both Filer and Miller Jr. have been vital to their teams in different capacities.

While Filer is the engine of REG’s offense, Miller Jr. plays a co-leader of SLAC alongside Marcus Crawford.

In two games, SLAC scored 140, but allowed 146. So, to make things right, SLAC must beat REG to avoid the maths game later in the competition.

REG, on the other hand, must be feeling highly confident, especially after coming back from an 11-point deficit to beat former African champions AS Salé 91-87.

But taking on REG could be a hard task for SLAC, especially if one takes the events against US Monastir into account.

US Monastir exposed SLAC’s poor rotation, and if the Conakry-based are to control their BAL destiny, Head Coach Zeljko Zecevic will need to give his younger players more playing time and be more aggressive defensively.

Crawford, SLAC’s leading scorer, was put under intense scrutiny from start to finish against the Tunisian champions; Monastir forced him to get into foul trouble, and took him out of his comfort zone. As a result, Zecevic’s team had to answer to Monastir’s game plan.

Just like Monastir, REG can play aggressive on both ends of the floor, and it’s also true that the Rwandan champions can move the ball at an impressive pace.

REG’s Anthony Walker and SLAC’s Chris Obekpa may offer an intriguing battle in the paint given the two players’ ferocity near the basket.

Other players to watch out for in this encounter include REG’s duo of Cleveland Thomas Jr., a decent guard with an appetite to drive to the basket, and shooter Dieudonne Ndizeye.