Holders AS Sale fought back in the Q3 to tie Nigeria’s Civil Defenders 69-69 in the first-leg of their Africa Basketball League Elite 8 clash at the National Stadium Indoor Sport Hall, Abuja on Saturday.

With the Competition rule allowing for a tie in the first-leg, if opposing teams are on same points at the end of the 4th quarter, and no Overtime will played.

This rule change now means an outright winner must emerge in the second-leg, but the outcome of the game in Abuja didn’t go down well with the visiting Coach.

AS Salé’s Head Coach, Zeljko Zechevich said: “I have played and coach this game but never seen this type of rules in basketball.”

The teams will meet in Salé for the second-leg on April 12 at the Salle Bouazzaoui Arena.