Okapi Aalst stunted in Mechelen. — © GOYVAERTS/GMAX AGENCY
Kangoeroes Mechelen lost 90-98 at home against Okapi Aalst. Immediately the second home loss of the season and the second loss of the weekend after the derby against Antwerp Giants on Friday. It was the visitors’ first win since November 25. Brian Fobbs received too little offensive support to reassemble a collective Okapi Aalst with stars Jordan Walker and Nikola Popovic. Bad business for the Maneblussers towards Elite Gold
Ludo Hendrick, Patrick Ceulemans
On Friday, the Maneblussers played an impressive first quarter in the Lotto Arena in Antwerp. There was not much of that against Okapi Aalst. Maras and Popovic quickly gave the Ajuinen a ten-point lead at 11-21.
Jonas Foerts, who recovered from a hamstring injury with a three-pointer and an unleashed Brian Fobbs with a four out of four, restored the balance at the end of the first quarter to 23-26. Strong raids by Larry Thomas and Wen Mukubu kept the Mechelen in the wake of the Aalst residents, but taking over command was unsuccessful. Rather, it took an efficient Brian Fobbs to retire with a manageable 46-51 deficit halfway through.
At 63-63, Domien Loubry and his mates finally came next to the visitors for the first time. However, the hope of success was short-lived because the third quarter was also for Thomas Crab’s men. After three quarters of the game, a 65-71 intermediate score flickered on the board. It remained a pleasant and exciting game, also in the fourth slide. Two more times, star Brian Fobbs came alongside with the help of a secure Mattias Palinckx (78-78 and 82-82). Nikola Popovic and Jordan Walker, however, did not give up and with 2 minutes to go it was 87-93. A distant bomb from Domien Loubry (90-95) gave some hope, but Nikola Popovic made sure the books could end with a nice dunk.
Kangaroos Mechelen-Okapi Aalst 90-98Quartz: 23-26, 23-25, 19-20, 25-27
Kangaroos Mechelen : Davis 2, Loubry 7, Mennes 0, Fobbs 33, Palinckx 15, Mukubu 9, Van Buggenhout 5, Krotulja 0, Foerts 9, Thomas 5, Aririguzoh 5
Okapi Aalst : Maras 14, Schauvlieger 10, Marchant 0, Popovic 28, Walker 22, Vermoesen 4, Ledegem 10, Nzege 10
