June 9, 2025

Matchup Spotlight: US Monastir vs Petro de Luanda

📅⏰: June 9 | 7PM Local
🚨 Elimination Matchup in the #theBAL!

🧨 USM = Sharpshooters led by Patrick Hardy Jr.
•⁠ ⁠2nd in BAL in 3PM (11.7/game)
•⁠ ⁠Hardy Jr. & Eldridge: 3.0 3PM each (T-2nd BAL)
•⁠ ⁠Hardy Jr. also Top 3 in STL per game (2.3)

*Patrick Hardy Jr #10 of U.S. Monastir shoots the ball during the game against ASC Ville de Dakar during the Sahara Conference Group on April 24, 2025, at Dakar Arena in Diamniadio, Senegal.*

🛡 Petro = Lockdown Defense
•⁠ ⁠Allowing league-low 72.4 PPG (#1 in league)
•⁠ ⁠3rd in steals (10.6/g), 4th in FB points (20.6/g)
o One of 3 teams to + 10 in SPG

📊 Tale of the Tape – US Monastir vs Petro de Luanda

*Aboubacar Gakou #15 of Petro de Luanda celebrates during the game against Kriol Star Basketball during the Sahara Conference Group on May 4, 2025 at Dakar Arena in Diamniadio, Senegal.*

🔥 Scoring Power
USM: 81.0 PPG (Ranked #4)
Petro: 74.3 PPG (Ranked #10)

🛡️ Defensive Edge
USM: 75.0 OPPG (Ranked #5)
Petro: 72.4 OPPG (Best in BAL – #1)

*Osiris Eldridge #15 of U.S. Monastir shoots a three-point basket during the game against Petro de Luanda during the Sahara Conference Group on May 1, 2025, at Dakar Arena in Diamniadio, Senegal.*

🎯 3-Point Shooting
USM: 11.7 makes per game (Ranked #2)
Petro: 7.9 makes per game (Ranked #11)

*Patrick Gardner #28 of Petro de Luanda three-point basket during the game against ASC Ville de Dakar during the Sahara Conference Group on April 29, 2025, at Dakar Arena in Diamniadio, Senegal.*

💪 Paint Presence
USM: 29.1 points in the paint (Ranked #11)
Petro: 37.7 points in the paint (Ranked #4)

📌 Key Battle / Potential Storyline:
•⁠ ⁠Can USM deep range give them the advantage (#2 vs PDL #11)?
•⁠ ⁠Or will Petro's potent inside game and D grind them down?