Olympique Batna 57 – 63 WRBB El Eulma | Algerian National First Division
May 16, 2026 – 23:00 local time

WRBB El Eulma delivered a gritty road performance at the Salle Omnisports de Batna, overcoming a slow start to defeat Olympique Batna 63-57 in a tightly contested Algerian National First Division matchup. The visitors’ defensive adjustments in the second half proved decisive, shutting down Batna’s scoring runs and securing a crucial victory away from home.

Match Overview

The game began at a methodical pace, with both teams struggling to find rhythm from the field. Olympique Batna leaned on their home crowd and a disciplined half-court offence to build a narrow 28-26 lead at halftime. However, WRBB El Eulma came out of the break with renewed intensity, forcing turnovers and converting in transition. A 12-2 run in the third quarter flipped the momentum, and Batna never regained the lead. Despite a late push in the final minutes, the hosts could not close the gap, as El Eulma’s free‑throw shooting down the stretch sealed the 63-57 victory.

Key Moments

• Third‑quarter turnaround: Trailing 32‑30 early in the third, El Eulma unleashed a decisive 12‑2 surge, punctuated by back‑to‑back three‑pointers from their bench. The run turned a two‑point deficit into a 44‑34 advantage.
• Batna’s fourth‑quarter rally: Olympique Batna cut the margin to 58‑55 with two minutes remaining on a driving layup and a steal‑and‑score. But El Eulma answered with a clutch mid‑range jumper and two free throws to restore a seven‑point cushion.
• Defensive stand at the buzzer: With 15 seconds left and Batna trailing by four, their attempt to force overtime ended with a blocked shot in the paint, securing El Eulma’s win.

Tactical Story

WRBB El Eulma’s head coach made a critical adjustment at halftime, switching to a 2‑3 zone defence that disrupted Olympique Batna’s interior passing lanes. Batna, which had scored 18 points in the paint in the first half, managed only 10 in the second. The visitors also controlled the glass, out‑rebounding Batna 38‑29, including 12 offensive boards that led to second‑chance points. Offensively, El Eulma played a patient game, working the shot clock and avoiding live‑ball turnovers. Their ability to execute in the half‑court and draw fouls – 18 free‑throw attempts in the second half alone – proved instrumental.

Standout Players

• WRBB El Eulma: The team’s leading scorer, guard Yacine Messaoudi, poured in 18 points, including eight in the decisive third quarter. Forward Karim Bouazza added a double‑double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, anchoring the defensive effort.
• Olympique Batna: Veteran point guard Mohamed Larbi finished with 16 points and 5 assists, but his efficiency dipped in the second half under pressure. Center Abdelkader Zoubir contributed 10 points and 8 boards before fouling out late.

Impact on the Standing

The victory moves WRBB El Eulma into a tied fifth place in the Algerian National First Division, strengthening their playoff positioning with only a handful of games remaining. For Olympique Batna, the loss drops them to seventh, now two games behind the top‑six cutoff. The defensive lapses in the third quarter will be a focus for Batna’s coaching staff as they aim to bounce back in their next outing against MC Alger.