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*** MOROCCAN MEN BASKETBALL MAIN PAGE ***
 | Maghreb de Fes finishes 21st Arab Clubs Championship | |
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by Eurobasket News - May 3, 2008 | |  | Maghreb de Fes finished the participation in 21st Arab Clubs Championship in Jordan. Zain being the favorite number one remaining undefeated at home championship. In the last game for the Group E the team from Jordan overcame Maghreb de Fes 96:76. The latter showed a good game, but could not stay even with Zain. Enver Soobzokov (193-G/F-78, college: Cal.St.-San Bernar.) led the winners with 23 points and 10 assists.Mohammad Hamdan (201-F-84) collected 16 points and 9 rebounds, while Mohammad Bushnaq (200-F-81) scored 15. Macktar M'Baye (185-G-84) nailed 25 points in defeat and Alpha Traore (188-G-83) posted 15. |
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| Maghreb de Fes loses two in a row | |
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by Eurobasket News - May 1, 2008 | | | Maghreb de Fes lost two games ion the last two days in 21st Arab Clubs Championship. Both games the team from morocco was upset from the Lebanon representatives.
In Group E second day Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut beat Maghreb de Fes 92:69. It was a pleasure to see how the latter struggled in the game especially when the teams went to the lockers. At first Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut took 24:19 lead but in the second quarter Maghreb de Fes reduced the gap to 1 point. Even though Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut shined in the game Maghreb de Fes went to the lockers trailing only 41:40. In the second beginning of the second half the team from Morocco stayed tough, but then could not struggle any more. Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut enjoyed 64:59 after the third period and then finished the game with 92:69. Ace Custis (202-F-74, agency: Higher Vision Sports, college: Virginia Tech) led the winners with 30 points and 11 rebounds. Fadi El Khatib (197-F-79, agency: Pro Management Agency) nailed 22, whilst Ahmad Ismail (201-F-76) 13 points and 13 rebounds. Macktar M'Baye (185-G-84) top-scored for Maghreb de Fes with 20 points and Alpha Traore scored 19.
Tonight Sagesse - Al Hekmeh Beirut overcame Maghreb de Fes 75:60. In that game the team from Lebanon took the advantage in the very beginning and never looked behind. Both squads went to the lockers with 33:22 and then the winning team kept 10-15 points deficit. |
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| Maghreb de Fes advances to the next round | |
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by Eurobasket News - Apr 27, 2008 | | | Maghreb de Fes advanced to the next round of 21st Arab Clubs Championship. After the first loss of the tournament the team from Morocco could reinforce and win two other games. The win over Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (186-G-69, college: LSU)'s team was decisive in the group for the second place.
Maghreb de Fes defeated De La Salle Al Quds Jerusalem in the second game 98:65. The team from Palestine had a wonderful first quarter and had 20:12 after it. Moreover De La Salle Al Quds Jerusalem remained in front with 33:32 at the half. Maghreb de Fes used their power in the second half taking 58:51 after three quarters and leading the game to the happy end. Macktar M'Baye top-scored for the winners with 37 points, whilst Alpha Traore (188-G-83) had 16. Issa Kamel (192-F-83) ended up with 18 points in the losing effort.
Maghreb De Fes edged Al Ittihad Jeddah 91:72 after the even score in the first quarter. The team from Morocco used some runs to take a control later in the game and had 23 points advantage after three quarters played. Alpha Traore paced all the winners with 22 points and 8 rebounds. Macktar M'Baye (185-G-84) nailed 16 and Mohamed Hjira (202-C-80) posted 15. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf poured in 25 points in the losing effort. |
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| Al Nasr defeats Maghreb de Fes in the opener | |
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by Eurobasket News - Apr 25, 2008 | | | Al Nasr won the opener of the 21st Arab Clubs Championship that is held in Jordan. In the first game the team from Libya overcame Maghreb de Fes from Morocco 76:70. The latter started the campaign better taking 14:23 lead after the opening quarter. Moreover they controlled the game for three quarters, but Al Nasr had a fabulous last period to win the opener. Ellia Zolic led the winners with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Kowan collected 12 points and 5 assists, while Khaled Mohamad scored 12. Alpha Traore (188-G-83) had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists in the losing effort. |
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| News from Morocco | |
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| | | News from Morocco
RCA and MAS will play this coming week-end the King's Cup Final. The final will be broadcasted live on 2M satellite channel at 15h00 GMT (Nilesat 101 (7° Ouest) 12 015 Mhz Verticale 27500 / Hotbird 8 (13° Est) Mhz Horizontale 27500). AS/FAR and WAC will play the women final at 12:00.
AMEB (national basketball coaches association) is organising a coaches clinic on the 19th of April. Coach Naoufal Uariachi and Coach Javier Malla from Spain will conduct the clinic. More information on www.ameb.ma |
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| Day 18 | |
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| | | The game of the week was in Casablanca where TSC and FUS played the most important game of the season. FUS was playing to ensure her qualification to the play-off and TSC to avoid direct relegation. It was a very tense game where both team's players played under constant psychological pressure that provoked many turnovers and poor shooting percentage from both sides. But FUS' player's strong self-confidence and good defense took the last word of a heartbreak game that finished 61-63 for the visitors. FUS can breathe oxygen now after a very difficult start of the season as they got qualified to the play-off. On the other side, Coach Youssef Mjahed and his players fell in tears as they did not manage to save the team from direct relegation to second division.
Strong surprise in Kenitra : WAC did not know how to stop KAC players' desire to win. KAC was hoping and expecting FUS to loose so they can qualify to the play-off. Despite winning their game 90-86, KAC will now have to face the play-out games.
ASS was about to create the surprise in Tangier as IRT struggled and suffered all the game, but won thanks to Said Fath's last second shot (83-81).
The other results saw RCA winning MAS 64-61, and CMC avoiding direct relegation by winning MET in Tan-Tan 63-82. |
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| Day 17 | |
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| | | The surprise of the day was the defeat of ASS in Casablanca against CMC which are confirming the good come back thanks to coach Yatribi's work with the group (94-76). CMC were superior to ASS in all aspects of the game while ASS players were simply absent.
The other unexpected result, which is not a surprise, is the defeat of RCA against WAC (89-78). Since coach Haddany took the technical control of the team, WAC players gained enormously in self-confidence and they proved it versus RCA.
The other results saw MAS winning TSC 83-76. TSC's players lost their interest and seem to be already giving up for the rest of the competition. IRT won easily KAC 79-64 and FUS crushing MET 77-44. |
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| Day 16 Results | |
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| | | The biggest win was for IRT who travelled to Casablanca and came away with a hugely important 72-74 victory. The game was finely poised going into the last ten minutes but the visitors produced a great final period to take the win, taking advantage of some generous Motopenza defence with senegalese power forward Papis Diouf claiming 21 points while Marouane Kechrid scored 15 hitting three from outside in money time. It was a measured and controlled performance by IRT who looked after the ball and held their nerve to finish on Amine Barazi's buzzer shot. First win for IRT's new coach Nizar Mesbahi who said that self-confidence and team spirit are slowly getting back to his squad.
The biggest shock perhaps of the week was FUS winning MAS by 94-86. It was a truly inspirational win for the team that has struggled all season and can breathe oxygen again with this victory. Bangoura Mourlaye (23 points, 14 rebounds) was the man of the game as FUS took advantage of slack MAS defence.
It was a similar story in Casablanca where the home team TSC won WAC who still did not recover from his last week devastating Cup loss versus RCA. WAC's coach Driss Ghissassi was sacked in the beginning of the week and Raduan Haddany was appointed head coach. Inconsistent TSC team picked up an unexpected 65-55 win.
The other results of the day saw ASS edge past MET 58-72 and KAC crushing CMC 81-53. |
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| News from Morocco | |
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| | | News from Morocco
League's leader IRT got eliminated from Cup competition. Once again RCA blocked the way to IRT, but this time not in the final but in early quarter final. RCA, ASS, MAS and WAC will play semi-finals.
IRT's coach Said Bouzidi was sacked last week and replaced by Nizar Mesbahi. IRT's management said that they were aiming the King's Cup this year but coach Bouzidi did not help them reach their goals.
Under 20 Men National Team will participate in Tourcoing International Tournament from March 17th to March 26 th. Hicham Doghmi was appointed Head Coach.
AMEB (national basketball coaches association) launches their web site (www.ameb.ma) and announced a future agreement with AEEB (Spanish basketball coaches association). |
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| Day 15 | |
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| | | IRT power forward Papis Diouf filled the stat sheet with 27 points but only five rebounds in Saturday evening's 82-74 victory over TSC. He certainly lost his own game playing defense against his ex team-mate Camara Lassana who finishes the game with a triple double (15 points, 11 rebounds, 10 blocks). TSC dominated the under rim battle as Gaye Malamine scores 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. IRT played under their level in a empty Badr's gymnasium as Moroccan Federation decided after the unacceptable spectators behaviour in the previous IRT/MAS game. IRT save the game thanks to the good game of Marouane Kechrid (16 points, 6 assists) and experienced Ahmed Kajaj (15 points).
FUS remain in the borderline after their lost against a resurrected WAC team (75-63). FUS players resisted the first period of the game but then could not stop furious local player Karim Layadi and his team-mates.
RCA struggled to insure the win over CMC (67-72). Coach Yatribi's players showed a high level of fighting spirit and were about to create the surprise. With only two rounds left for the playoffs, RCA players looked in a very worrying lack of physical condition.
The other results of the day saw ASS edge past KAC 79-70 and MAS crushing MET 66-55. |
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| Day 14 results | |
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| | | IRT's team scoring guard Mustapha Khalfi took charge with only two minute left in the game and hit 2 three-pointer to give his team the lead and the win against local rival FUS. IRT had to work hard for the victory, having been incomprehensively outplayed by FUS in the first half (37-16). FUS players showed much better tactical organisation on the court and IRT's coach Bouzidi had tried unsuccessfully many different defenses (m&m, zone, triangle & 2). IRT players were playing without desire and showed a worrying lack of aggressiveness in defense and lack of ideas in offense, which is still based only on individualities. But right after half time IRT came more and more into the game thanks to a simple and normal 1-2-2 zone press and the lack of experience of FUS young line up. FUS resisted to IRT comeback on the score thanks to Bangoura Mourlaye (18 points, 11 rebounds) but Tunisian player Marouane Kechrid (20 points) took the ball in crunch time and made the decisive baskets to tie the game 2:30 minutes remaining in the game. Then Mustapha Khalfi (19 points) netted is only 3 three-pointer shots of the game and sealed another victory for IRT (65-75).
Despite this lost the inexperienced young and hunger FUS players showed in general a high level of discipline in offense and good consistency in defense, and are promising good results to come.
MAS secured his second place after a home victory over WAC (91-82). The teams exchanged runs in the first half with WAC earning a 14-16 lead after 1Q before MAS players responded to take a 38-36 halftime lead. Things stayed the same until MAS switched to a 2-3 zone defense and created many problems to WAC players. When WAC's coach decided to set a box and one defense in order to stop Alpha Traore good shooting range, Matar M'baye appeared and enjoyed a terrific game topscoring with 24 points and 8 assists. WAC players tried to stop the fire with a terrible unorganised match-up zone defense where Aloui Brahim (4 out of 5 three-pointer) and Hjira's double double (14 points, 14 rebounds) found easily the way to the basket. Michel Lasme topscored for WAC with a strong 21 points performance but was not enough as he did not receive any help from his teammates.
Saturday's other result saw RCA edge past ASS 81-77 and KAC struggling for a win over MET 61-64. TSC recovered from last weeks defeats with a 97-69 strong victory over CMC. |
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