First ever NBA game on the
continent of Africa, Team World overcame a 20-point deficit to defeat Team
Africa 101-97 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday.
The Manute Bol Most Valuable
Player award was shared by Team World captain Chris Paul, who scored
12 points, and Team Africa captain Luol
Deng, who netted
20.
Team Africa included NBA players from Cameroon, Democratic
Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Senegal and South Sudan and they made the running
against opposition consisting largely of American-born stars.
The African selection led 30-17 after the first quarter, 56-38 at
half-time and 77-62 after three quarters of the 40-minute exhibition match.
There were surprise, brief second-quarter appearances for Team
Africa by retired NBA stars Hakeem Olajuwon of Nigeria and Dikembe Mutombo from
DR Congo.
Olajuwon, who in 1984 became the first African drafted into the
NBA when he joined the Houston
Rockets, raised one of the loudest roars with a two-pointer before retiring
breathless.
Dikembe Mutombo
"This is an incredible day -- a dream come true," said
52-year-old Olajuwon.
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