Neither side could throw the ball in the ocean, but Chad found just enough in the fourth quarter to move within one win of history. Behind a colossal performance from Ngaba Yaya (2008), Chad outscored the Republic of Congo 19-8 in the final period to overturn a five-point deficit and grind out a 52-46 win in the Zone 4 semifinals of the FIBA U18 AfroBasket qualifiers on Wednesday.
It was a contest defined by missed shots. Congo were dreadful from the floor, hitting just 17 of 77 attempts for 22.1 percent, and a staggering 7 of 37 from three-point range. They hoisted up offensive rebound after offensive rebound 29 of them and still could not buy a basket when it counted. Chad were tidier but hardly clean themselves, shooting 38.5 percent and coughing the ball up 30 times.
The two sides traded the early initiative, tied 24-24 at halftime before Congo edged the third quarter 14-9 to lead 38-33. Then Chad's defense clamped down and Ngaba Yaya took over the glass. The forward finished with 20 points, 24 rebounds, six blocks and three steals, a two-way tour de force that single-handedly tilted the game. Timothee Ndohoudou (2008) added 14 points, knocking down four three-pointers, while Junior Djibrine grabbed 10 rebounds to go with two blocks despite a cold 3-of-12 shooting night.
Congo's best work came from Isaac Michel Mouangui, who posted 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven steals across the full 40 minutes. Dieuveil Mongo chipped in nine points and 12 boards, but the night belonged to the misses: Roland Patience Goma shot 4-of-20, and Paul Yann Bonanga endured a brutal 1-of-21 evening from the field.
The win sends Chad through to the Zone 4 final, where a single victory would deliver a maiden appearance at the continental finals in Cote d'Ivoire the prize that goes to the tournament's winner. Congo, chasing a return to the continental stage they last reached in 2008, are left to settle for the placement bracket.