Putney sets Road to BAL scoring record as Dar City make light work of Djabal

In a commanding display of basketball prowess, Dar City kicked off their Road to BAL Group D campaign with a resounding 102-50 victory over Djabal of Comoros, thrilling an enthusiastic crowd in Dar Es Salaam on Friday, 17 October. 

The Tanzanian side, boasting a star-studded roster including two-time BAL winner Solo Diabate, showcased their dominance from the outset, living up to expectations and sending a clear message to their rivals.

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The match was largely defined by the exceptional performance of American power forward Raphiael Putney, who made an emphatic return to the BAL stage. Putney was unstoppable throughout the game, finishing with a game-high 55 points on an efficient 9-for-19 shooting from beyond the arc and nearly perfect at the basket, missing just once in 14 attempts. 

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His relentless scoring, combined with the leadership of Diabate, who provided seven assists, and Deng Angok Yak Deng, who scored 17, coming a rebound shy of a double-double, propelled Dar City to a comprehensive victory.

The game began with a burst of energy from Dar City, who opened with a 13-0 run that set the tone for the match. Djabal attempted to rally, with Djoumoi Mohamed sinking a three-pointer to halt Dar’s momentum, but the hosts quickly regained control, ending the first quarter up 26-11. 

From there, Dar City continued their assault, shutting out Djabal 17-7 in the early minutes of the second quarter to extend their lead to 42-18. Sensing an opportunity, coach Mamadou Gueye rotated his bench, and Dar City cruised to a 60-24 halftime advantage.

The third quarter saw Dar City comfortably maintain their lead, leveraging their height and wingspan advantage to dominate both ends of the court. 

Despite an early 6-0 run from Djabal to start the half, Putney responded with a flurry of points, and with Diabate and Deng adding to the scoring, the lead ballooned to 70-30 with just over four minutes remaining in the quarter. Putney continued his scoring spree in the final period, tallying 16 more points to seal the deal as Dar City finished strong, outscoring Djabal 22-13 in the quarter.

Statistically, Dar City’s precision from beyond the arc was notable, shooting 14-of-43 compared to Djabal’s 3-of-16. The hosts also dominated inside, out-rebounding Djabal 50-26 and converting offensive rebounds into second-chance points. 

The presence of former NBA star Hasheem Thabeet on the defensive end, grabbing 12 rebounds, further stifled Djabal’s efforts. Turnovers hurt Djabal, who conceded 14 points off 24 giveaways, but they managed to score 13 points off Dar’s 15 turnovers.

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With this commanding performance, Dar City demonstrated why they are considered serious contenders in the Road to BAL. As they inch closer to securing a spot in the Elite 16, the team’s chemistry and recruiting efforts continue to turn heads. Their next challenge will be to overcome the Namuwongo Blazers and maintain their perfect record in the group stage.

“My team held me down, giving me the ball, for the 55 points, and that’s a blessing for my career. We are here as a new team, but I think we have great chemistry, and we have to continue playing together and do the right thing for the team. Coming into this match, we did not want to go easy on them, and the coach wanted us to show that we will not go easy on anyone," Putney said after the victory.