BAL Day 2 Roundup: REG Wrecks Sale Apart, US Monastir Dispatch Ferroviaro

The Regular Season Schedule that features 12 teams, has so far been highlighted by blockbusters. The second day of the BAL Championship was marked by a doubleheader. First up, was the REG basketball club against AS Sale.

Moroccan representatives AS Sale were only quarter finalists last time out in 2021. In an effervescent Dakar Arena, the ‘Corsaires’ were served a piece of humble pie as they lost from a winning position.

With a very similar roster to last year, Sale began the first half with an energetic display especially with Alvaro Masa was on a high, scoring 13 points in the first half; dominating the paint and for a while shooting like a certain Curry, the only difference being a shaggy hair.

It was Masa for Sale, and in return, Wilson replying with some shots of his own from down town for REG. The first quarter saw the teams go neck-to-neck as it finished 26-27 for Sale.

REG looked like they had the stage fright creeping in at some crucial moments, plus, a couple of unforced errors cost them the first half that ended 48-46 in Sale’s advantage.

After the interval, 53-year-old EX Blazers point guard, now the REG coach – John Pack rallied court side to see his boys come back for an emphatic win.

Impressive pick and rolls on the offence plus personal actions like Anthony Walker’s highlight- real dunk in the fourth quarter, meant the newbies; REG won 91-87.

The Dakar Arena barely had time to rest as the hard maple ate up more sneakers.

Last season’s runner-up US Manastir was up against Clube Ferroviaro of Mozambique.

Beaten finalists last year, US Monastir has added on their roster some top players, including players from rivals Zamalek.

Sudanese-born Australian-Lebanese was great on both ends of the court, denying two points and making some for Monastir, ending as he ended the game with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks.

Monastir kept their cool and escaped a second half scare to finally defeat the debutants 77-71.