16 July 2008
CAMEROON : Cameroon gives Puerto Rico all it could handle but loses 81-72
For the second game in a row, the Cameroon Indomitable Lions exceeded all expectations and gave a highly-touted Puerto Rico team all it could handle. Cameroon showed their mettle by playing hard-nose ball. While Puerto Rico had double-digit leads throughout the game, Cameroon kept storming back. Cameroon cut the lead down to 6 points, 65-59, following a three-pointer from 6-2, pg Parfait Bitee, with less than seven minutes left in the game. Minutes later, Harding Nana, 6-8, f, took the ball hard to the rack for a deuce, making the score 65-61. After the team traded baskets, Nana made a jump shot to keep Cameroon close, 70-67 with 1:40 remaining in the game. However, in the end, Puerto Rico had too much offense for Cameroon to overcome. Puerto Rico held on to win in a hard-fought battle, 81-72, to advance to the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Nana had another monster outing for Cameroon, tallying a total of 22 points. Bitee had an exceptional game as well; scoring 17 points (four 3-pointers), 2 assists and 2 steals. 6-8 pf Brice Vounang had a solid game as well, scoring 10 pts. Finally, 6-11, c Ruben Boumtje Boumtje was Lord of the Boards, with 8 rebounds, a follow-up to his 10 rebound total in the previous game against Croatia.
6-11 c Ricardo Sanchez (17 pts) and NBA 6-2 pg Carlos Arroyo (16 pts) led a balanced Puerto Rico attack that saw five of its players scoring in double digits for the game.
With this second loss, Cameroon bows out of the tournament in Athens. But the team should be extremely proud of what they have accomplished. Cameroon should be proud of what these fine men had done for their country. Putting this in proper perspective, what the Indomitable Lions had done in Athens, burdened by inferior all-around support from home, is truly awe-inspiring. And despite all these difficulties, they played both Croatia and Puerto Rico tough. A lot of credit goes to these men, for the sacrifices they made this week. A lot of credit also goes to their great leader, Coach Lazare Adingono, who also had to work hard under extreme levels of stress, being able to keep the team motivated and driven in the middle of such crisis.
Congratulations to the Cameroon Indomitable Lions: Alfred Aboya, Christian Bayang, Parfait Bitee, Patrick Bouli, Ruben Boumtje Boumtje, Joachim Ekanga Ehawa, Jean Pierre Ellong Ebongue, Cyrille Makanda, Harding Nana, Franck Ndongo, Brice Vounang, Alexis Wangmene, and Coach Lazare Adingono.
Hopefully, this inspirational effort would encourage the country to support the game of basketball back home. Without a doubt, Cameroon has the skilled players. It would be truly great when the time comes when the National Basketball Teams have the full support of the Cameroon Government, allowing these fine men and women to compete at the highest level without any stress, apart from stress on the court.
Nana had another monster outing for Cameroon, tallying a total of 22 points. Bitee had an exceptional game as well; scoring 17 points (four 3-pointers), 2 assists and 2 steals. 6-8 pf Brice Vounang had a solid game as well, scoring 10 pts. Finally, 6-11, c Ruben Boumtje Boumtje was Lord of the Boards, with 8 rebounds, a follow-up to his 10 rebound total in the previous game against Croatia.
6-11 c Ricardo Sanchez (17 pts) and NBA 6-2 pg Carlos Arroyo (16 pts) led a balanced Puerto Rico attack that saw five of its players scoring in double digits for the game.
With this second loss, Cameroon bows out of the tournament in Athens. But the team should be extremely proud of what they have accomplished. Cameroon should be proud of what these fine men had done for their country. Putting this in proper perspective, what the Indomitable Lions had done in Athens, burdened by inferior all-around support from home, is truly awe-inspiring. And despite all these difficulties, they played both Croatia and Puerto Rico tough. A lot of credit goes to these men, for the sacrifices they made this week. A lot of credit also goes to their great leader, Coach Lazare Adingono, who also had to work hard under extreme levels of stress, being able to keep the team motivated and driven in the middle of such crisis.
Congratulations to the Cameroon Indomitable Lions: Alfred Aboya, Christian Bayang, Parfait Bitee, Patrick Bouli, Ruben Boumtje Boumtje, Joachim Ekanga Ehawa, Jean Pierre Ellong Ebongue, Cyrille Makanda, Harding Nana, Franck Ndongo, Brice Vounang, Alexis Wangmene, and Coach Lazare Adingono.
Hopefully, this inspirational effort would encourage the country to support the game of basketball back home. Without a doubt, Cameroon has the skilled players. It would be truly great when the time comes when the National Basketball Teams have the full support of the Cameroon Government, allowing these fine men and women to compete at the highest level without any stress, apart from stress on the court.
# posted by afrbk : 13:55
