April 30, 2023

Nile Conference - Matchday 4 - PREVIEW

Sunday’s Nile Conference action brings different challenges for Ferroviario da Beira, Petro de Luanda, SLAC and Cape Town Tigers in the race for the BAL Playoffs next month in Kigali.

SLAC v Ferroviario da Beira - 17:00 (Local Time); 11:00 a.m (ET)

This is a survival test for Beira and a fight back attempt for SLAC in the Nile Conference.

While SLAC chase their first victory of the season after losing their first game against Cape Town on Thursday, Beira can’t afford a third straight defeat.

“We are in a very tough situation,” Beira forward Makhtar Gueye admitted.

“Those three games [against SLAC, Cape Town and City Oilers] are like three finals for us. The other teams are aiming for the same thing as us. We need to step up,” Gueye explained to the bal.nba.com.

CAIRO, EGYPT - APRIL 29: Najeal Young #4 of the CFV - Beira dribbles the ball during the game against the Petro de Luanda on April 29, 2023 at the Dr Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Julien Bacot/NBAE via Getty Images)

One thing that Beira can be proud of is the way they fought against better equipped Petro de Luanda and Al Ahly.

Beira out-rebounded Petro 38-36 and won the rebounding battle against hosts Al Ahly 48-36.

However, Beira’s bench needs to be more productive bench. It has only contributed 30 points in two games.

SLAC guard Uche Iroegbu says they need a different approach to avoid another defeat.

“We definitely get to figure out how to play and defend without fouling,” he reflected on SLAC’s 27 fouls against Cape Town.

“Being the first game, we kind of see how the referees are going to call it. These are things that we can take advantage of next time. The free-throws and the fouls were definitely the biggest difference in the game,” he observed.

SLAC and Beira have a BAL history. When they faced each other in the Sahara Conference last season in Dakar, SLAC came up on top 90-74.

It was a game that boosted SLAC’s chances to advance to the next round.

Another SLAC win over Beira would be could trigger the Guinean champions.

Petro de Luanda v Cape Town Tigers - 20:30 (Local Time); 14:30 (ET)

One more win on Sunday, and former African champions Petro would cement their chances of making it to the BAL playoffs for the third season in a row.

Although the Angolan champions cruised to wins over City Oilers and Beira, coach Jose Neto plays down any favourite status.

“This is not an easy competition,” the Brazilian said. “It’s going to be a hard and tough game for us. For now, we are taking one game a time. Cape Town are aiming for the same goal as us in this tournament. We have to stay humble.”

CAIRO, EGYPT - APRIL 27: Head Coach Rasheed Hazzard of the Cape Town Tigers looks on before the game against the SLAC on April 27, 2023 at the Dr Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Armand Lenoir/NBAE via Getty Images)

Cape Town Tigers’ Rasheed Hazzard who won his first game as a head coach on Thursday – against SLAC – acknowledged that “The road to BAL is tough; the road to the championship is even tougher.”

The former New York Knicks assistant coach said: “You have to respect your opponents. All these men come here to play hard. They don’t care where you have been; they don’t care if I have coached in the NBA.”