RBC Boeny secured an emphatic 101-43 victory over Fandrasa Haute Matsiatra at the Palais des sports de Mahamasina, overcoming an unusual 20-minute power outage in the opening minute to secure a dominant result.
Power Failure Interrupts Opening Minute in Antananarivo
The fixture began with an unexpected delay when the venue suffered a blackout just 35 seconds into the contest. RBC Boeny had already carved out an early 2-0 lead before the arena lights and scoreboards went dark, forcing officials to pause play while venue technicians worked to restore power.
Electricity returned to the Palais des sports de Mahamasina at 12:20 PM local time, with play resuming three minutes later. Rather than losing momentum during the lengthy stoppage, Boeny immediately extended their advantage to 4-0 and soon pushed the score to 6-0 within the first three minutes of action.
Boeny Establishes First-Half Control Behind Fast Breaks
Fandrasa Haute Matsiatra finally broke their scoring drought when Sitraka connected on a three-point jump shot to narrow the deficit to 9-3. Despite the perimeter basket, Boeny’s defensive pressure and rapid transition game quickly overwhelmed their opponents.
During the opening period, Raphaël capped a swift fast-break sequence with a high-flying dunk that energized the crowd and pushed the margin further. Even while accumulating four early team fouls, Boeny maintained total control of the tempo, closing out the first quarter ahead 29-12.
The second quarter followed a similar script. Boeny stretched their lead to 36-14 midway through the frame before heading into the halftime locker room comfortably ahead at 47-21.
Fandrasa Surge Fails to Slow Down Boeny’s Attack
Fandrasa showed renewed energy at the start of the third quarter, opening the period with a deep three-pointer to cut the deficit to 47-24. Haute Matsiatra strung together their most effective stretch of the afternoon shortly afterward, capitalizing on minor defensive lapses from Boeny to reduce the margin to 51-33.
Boeny quickly extinguished any hopes of a comeback by tightening their defensive rotations and accelerating their offensive pace. They closed the third quarter leading 70-37, holding a commanding 33-point cushion heading into the final ten minutes.
Fourth-Quarter Scoring Onslaught Reaches the Century Mark
The final quarter quickly transformed into a showcase for Boeny’s depth and conditioning. With three minutes and twenty seconds remaining on the clock, Boeny expanded their lead to 88-42.
Spectators inside the arena began chanting to encourage the team past the 100-point threshold in the game’s closing moments. Gilnardo delivered another spectacular dunk to push the score to 93-42, and Boeny ultimately sealed the 101-43 final scoreline as the buzzer sounded.
Standings Implications and Relegation Realities
The lopsided defeat officially confirms Fandrasa Haute Matsiatra’s relegation to the N1B division. Speaking after the final whistle, Fandrasa coach Solofonary Rakotoarimanana pointed to morale issues and roster attrition as decisive factors behind his squad’s struggles this season.
« Le moral n’y était plus, car nous savions déjà que nous serions relégués en N1B. Plusieurs joueurs qui nous avaient aidés à accéder à la N1A sont partis rejoindre d’autres clubs, » Rakotoarimanana stated, acknowledging that the departure of key promotion-winning players left the team shorthanded against top-flight competition.
On the winning sideline, RBC Boeny coach Jeannot Ravonimbola emphasized the need for discipline and focus as the tournament progresses toward the championship rounds. While acknowledging the impressive performance, Ravonimbola noted that his group is taking nothing for granted in a highly competitive field.
« Comme toutes les équipes présentes à cette phase finale, notre premier objectif est d’atteindre la finale. Pour la suite, on verra. Le niveau est très relevé et tout le monde peut battre tout le monde. Nous avançons donc étape par étape, » Ravonimbola said.
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