AfricaPress-Tanzania: TANZANIA Basketball Association has named National Basketball League (NLB) champions Kurasini Heat as the country’s envoys in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) to be staged early next year.
Whereas the runners up Oilers and third-placed Don Bosco Panthers will represent the country in Zone 5 FIBA Afro Basket Qualifier which will be played late this year.
“Kurasini Heat defeated Oilers by 76- 59 in the final to win the NBL title; Don Bosco Panthers from Dodoma secured a third place after beating Vijana City Bulls 80-77.”
“The NBL champions will represent the nation in Basketball Africa League (BAL) whereas the second and third winners will take part in Zone 5 FIBA Afro Basket Qualifier to be staged late this year. We still wait for the dates when the tournament will commence.”
JKT who won the title last season, were knocked out in group stage after losing both games to Oilers and Kurasini Heat.
In women’s side JKT Stars who are the champions and runners up Don Bosco Lioness of Dar es Salaam will take part in the Zone 5 FIBA Afro Basket Qualifier.
“This year’s competition was sensational as every team which had participated showed a quality game. It was quite difficult to predict who will be NBL Champions, no one expected to see teams like JKT failing to seal a place for quarterfinals or Don Bosco Panther who defeated big guns like Vijana,” he added.
Apart from the results that have been reflected in the league, there individuals who displayed an outstanding performance showcasing marksmanship, assists, rebounds and blocking.
Jonas Mush of Vijana has been the top star with more points in books as he has fired 112 points, followed by Brian Muramba of Panthers who stamped 96 points and Joseph Kamamba of Oilers who carved 93 points.
Amin Mkosa of Kurasini has bagged 69 points and Sylvian Yunzu of Panthers booked 66 points. Apart from the leading scorers there are players who did the best in three-pointer race.
Sylvian Yunzu has been the top in this category with 14 points followed by Joas Maheta of Savio who penned 10 points the same as Jonas Mushi and Philbert Mwaipungu of ABC.
On the assisting category, the best of them was Sylvian Yunzu who recorded 19 assists followed by Josephat Peter of Pazi with 18 assists, Amin Mkosa at third with 16 assists. Others are Fadhili Chuma of Kurasini and Ally Buluba of Panther who each inked 15 assists.
The tournament’s rebound masters include Fotius Felician of Vijana who registered 52 rebounds; at second is Maxwell Ngonga of Oilers who had 48 rebounds.
Brian Muramba had 43 rebounds, Amin Mkosa at the fourth with 39 rebounds and William John of Rukwa who registered 36 rebounds.
