Angola enter winning column
Angola have proven why they are the top basketball team in Africa on Sunday. The defending FIBA-Africa champions secured their first win in Group A with a convincing 79-65 victory over Jordan in Kayseri. The Angolans erupted for 33 points in the final period to finish off their opponents from the Middle East.
The African giants got off to an impressive start, racing to a 7-2 lead. But the Jordanians quickly staged a rally behind the blazing guns of Ayman Idais. Jordan took a 17-16 lead after the first period following a basket by Mousa Alawadi.
The Angolans briefly regained the lead in the second quarter before the Jordanians unleashed a 7-0 spurt to increase their advantage to 27-21. Coach Mario Palma's wards took a 35-29 lead over Angola heading into the break.
Jordan dictated the tempo until the final few minutes of the third quarter when the Angolans started pressuring them. A series of turnovers from Jordan allowed Angola to come closer. The Africans finally took the lead, 46-45, with 39 seconds left after Felizardo Ambrosio slammed home the ball off an offensive rebound. Jordan, however, ended the period with a 48-47 advantage after Zaid Abbas made a basket at the buzzer.
Angola continued their aggressiveness in the final quarter and their efforts paid off as Jordan succumbed to their pressure defence. The Angolans also started hitting their shots as their big men made their presence felt inside the shaded lane. A 10-0 run capped by a basket from Ambrosio allowed the Angolans to take a commanding 56-47 cushion. Angola outscored their opponents 33-18 in the final quarter as they notched their first win of the tournament.
A total of four Angolan players finished in double figures. Miguel Lutonda led the way with 16 points while Carlos Morais added 14. Centre Joaquim Gomes finished with 14 points and grabbed six rebounds while Carlos Almeida had 11 points and six boards for Luís Magalhaes' squad. American-born Rasheim Wright led Jordan with 18 points while Abbas contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds. Idais had nine points and nine rebounds.
Angola will shoot for their second-straight win when they face 2004 Olympic champions Argentina tomorrow. The Angolans were humiliated by Serbia, 44-94, in their first outing. Jordan, on the other hand, will next play Serbia. The Jordanians absorbed their second-straight setback following their painful 75-76 defeat to Australia on Saturday. Upset-conscious Jordan led for most of the way only to lose steam in the endgame.
Tags: