Your weekly dose of FIBA Africa Zone 6 News: Petro de Luanda top the provincial competition, LigaSASOL in Mozambique concludes the regular season, Basketball South Africa unable to host Elite 16, Zambian Super League is back
Last Updated on
November 5, 2024
The 2024 Basketball Africa League and Angolan Basketball League champions Petro de Luanda have tipped off their domestic season with an impressive unbeaten run. Petro completed a flawless 9-0 run in the regional Campeonato Provincial tournament, signalling their early form and their intent for the forthcoming season. The 2024 BAL champs, who beat Al Ahly Ly 107-97 in the final, asserted their strength from the outset, routing Sporting 94-64, Akiras 94-43, and Primeiro de Agosto 92-71, among other decisive wins.
Now, the team turns its attention to the UnitelBasket League, where they aim to defend their title and remain Angola’s powerhouse. Vila Clotide took a close second place in the Provincial, dropping only their match against Petro in a competitive 72-60 clash that could have gone either way. Rounding out the top five are Sporting de Luanda in third, Interclube in fourth, and Primeiro de Agosto in fifth.
After recent disruptions, Mozambique's Liga SASOL Basketball Championship wrapped up their regular season. Ferroviário de Maputo resumed their campaign with an outstanding performance, thrashing Ferroviário Nacala 149-35. Costa do Sol, determined to keep pace with Maputo, dominated Maxaquene with a 94-28 victory. In a thrilling contest, Nacala edged out Maxaquene 61-58, pulling ahead in the closing moments.
The highly anticipated matchup between Maputo and Costa do Sol went down to the wire, but Maputo maintained their unbeaten record with a hard-fought 55-44 win. They now finish the regular season at the top of the standings, while Costa do Sol claimed second place with only one loss. All qualified teams will regroup and strategise as they prepare for the playoffs.
Basketball South Africa (BSA) remains under heavy scrutiny, and the latest developments have only intensified this. The East Division of the Elite 16 tournament, initially scheduled for South Africa from 12 to 17 November, will now be relocated. On 30 October, BSA Secretary-General Mr Sibongile Fondini [Pictured] informed FIBA Africa that, due to an "extreme lack of funding," the country could no longer host the event, despite a four-year streak of doing so. This setback will disappoint the fast-growing South African basketball fans, who have recently enjoyed numerous international competitions on home soil.
Earlier this year, South Africa successfully hosted the Basketball Africa League's Kalahari Conference, the CUCSA Games (the Confederation of Universities and Colleges Sports Association), and the 2024 U18 FIBA AfroBasket tournament. The Elite 16 would have been a perfect conclusion to an impressive year, but fans will now have to wait for the Kalahari Conference's return next season. Nevertheless, BSA assures the public that league champions, the MBB Blue Soldiers, remain dedicated to representing South Africa at the competition and are continuing preparations, even with the event moving abroad.
Although Zambia’s league champions, Matero Magic, are away in Zimbabwe competing in the 2025 Road to BAL tournament, the domestic league kept its schedule going with several key matchups this weekend. In the Men’s division, UNZA Pacers, fighting to avoid relegation, faced Red Arrows, who are also precariously close to the drop. The Pacers held their nerve, securing a vital 70-65 victory in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, temporarily lifting them out of the relegation zone.
In the Women’s league, Hotspurs, clinging to a playoff position, went head-to-head with NAPSA Breeze, who are looking to secure their playoff place. The game was low-scoring, marred by frequent unforced errors and poor shooting from both teams. NAPSA Breeze ultimately came out on top, claiming a 47-39 victory that strengthens their playoff aspirations with three games still in hand.
[Photography / Imagery Courtesy of The Big TipOff, Liga SASOL, Petro de Luanda and Midlands Basketball Association]
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