Kiir, Wang Lead Ruthless Over Espoir Fukash to Improve 2-1
The
win boosted Cobra Sports’ aspirations to stay in contention for a Basketball
Africa League (BAL) playoffs berth in Many in Kigali.
The
South Sudan champions stepped on the floor with a sense of urgency. They moved
the ball at such high pace in the opening quarter that they took shots in less
than 20 seconds. Those shots came in different ways and forms: from pull-up
shots, floaters, fast-breaks or even pick-and-rolls. Cobra were on a mission
for their first BAL win.
24
seconds was the longest Espoir Fukash led in the game.
The
Kinshasa-based team scored first through a fadeaway shot by Rolly Fula, but
Manyan Kiir seemed to have taken it personally and responded with lay-up that
was followed by a free throw.
Kiir’s
three-point play set the tone for Cobra Sports who went on to lead by as many
as 14 points in the first 10 minutes of
the game.
Kiir
was Cobra’s propulsor in that moment of the game, and, by the end of the
opening quarter he was the only player to score in double figures with his 12
points.
With
Cobra in total control of the game, the 24-year-old forward had a breather in
the second quarter, contributing just two more points in four minutes.
Kiir,
who played collegiate basketball for four schools – New Mexico State
University, Central Baptism College, University of South Florida and Louisiana
State University – finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds, Padiet Wang added
24 points, Nyang Wek came off the bench ton contribute 18 points and Jared
Harrington added 14 points for Cobra Sports.
Kiir
later talked about the win. “We don’t want to go home. We had to come out very
aggressive and make a statement from the start of the game. I wanted to
emphasise a lot of energy and get us going,” he said.
There
was no better way to exemplify Cobra Sports’ sense of urgency than the 58-38
halftime lead. They scored more points in 20 minutes on Wednesday than they had
in the 92-56 defeat to Petro de Luanda 24 hours earlier.
Cheered
by a group of South Sudanese fans inside the arena, Cobra looked a totally
different team from their previous two games and Fukash couldn’t keep up with
the Juba-based team’s rhythm.
“We love them. They are behind us. They are the best
supporters in the world, and I stand by that hundred percent,” Wang pointed
out.
He added: “We knew coming to this game, this was the most
important for us. We had to win this game. Now the next one is also the most
important game.”
Meanwhile, Espoir Fukash head coach Raven Khonde explained
the reasons behind his team’s defeat.
He said: “One of the reasons to this defeat was the fact
that defensively our team still has some lapses. We allowed too many three
points. These are things that need to fix.
Fukash dropped to 0-2 while Cobra improved to 1-2.