Walter Tavares breaks the backboard in crunch time as his Cape Verde edge out Angola / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

A match between Cape Verde (1-0) and Angola (0-1) capped off the first day of AfroBasket 2021. The game was tied after 40 minutes, but Cape Verde took their first victory after overtime 77-71 (14-14, 12-20, 23-21, 17-11, 11-5).

Walter Tavares

Team:Real MadridPosition:CAge:29Height:221 cmWeight:120 kgBirth place:Cabo VerdeProfileNewsStatistics

Angola led for most of the game, however, Walter Tavares grabbed an offensive rebound for Cape Verde with less than a minute left in the fourth quarter and jammed the ball with authority, breaking the backboard and tying the game at 66.

After an intermission, the backboard was replaced, and the last minute of action was underway. Neither team was able to score, and the game went into overtime. Cape Verde took an early lead in the extra period and retained it to secure a victory.

Real Madrid's center Walter Tavares scored 20 points (6/7 2PT, 8/14 FT), grabbed 18 rebounds, blocked 6 shots, recorded 3 steals, and ended with 39 PIR in 40.5 minutes for Cape Verde.

Angola's roster includes seven players from the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Kaunas, Lithuania, that wrapped up on July 4. They were led by Carlos Morais, who had 21 points (4/8 2PT, 4/13 3PT, 1/2 FT), 4 rebounds, 3 steals, and 11 PIR over 30.5 minutes.

Angola: Carlos Morais 21, Jilson Bango 13 (10 REB), Childe Dundao 8, Gerson Goncalves 8.

Cape Verde: Walter Tavares 20 (18 REB, 6 BLK, 3 STL, 39 PIR), Fidel Mendonca 14,Jeffrey Nunes Xavier 12,Ivan Almeida 11, Joel Almeida 10.

Angola will face the hosts of the championship, Rwanda, in their next game. Cape Verde will go up against Congo DR on Thursday as well.

The AfroBasket 2021 began with Tunisia's victory over Guinea. Soon after, Egypt beat the Central African Republic 72-56. Rwanda faced Congo DR and edged them 82-68.

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