Basketball in Africa

The Citizen Correspondent
Dar es Salaam. ABC cruised into the Dar es Salaam Regional Basketball League (RBA) final with a 68-62 win over lessening giants Pazi in nail-biting match at the National Indoor Stadium yesterday.

The army team will now face the winner between JKT and Vijana in the final set for Sunday at the same venue. The two teams were expected to lock horns yesterday evening.
Pazi, needing a win so as to avenge a 61-53 defeat by ABC in their previous match, made a bright start yesterday.
The former Mainland basketball giants, command the proceedings with swift but accurate passes, they looked destined for a convincing win when they took a 18-15 first quarter lead.
The second quarter was even more exciting as both teams fought hard for points to the delight of a partisan crowd at the venue. Pazi won it 32 – 29.
After a wobbly start, ABC, led by their key player Philbert Mwaipungu, took the game to their opponents in the third quarter.
Mwaipungu scored eight points and Gilbert Batungi added seven more as ABC applied all weapons at their disposal to contain their opponents. The thirds quarter ended on a 44-44 draw.
Mwaipungu and Batungi scored 21 and 19 points, respectively for ABC, while Mpoki Joel and Fredy Kasambo were notable players for Pazi. The duo scored 13 points apiece for the team.
ABC coach Leonard heaped praise on his lads for the victory and assured their fans that they would do the same in Sunday’s final.
“I am very happy with the way my team played today. We’ll train even harder to ensure we maintain the tempo and snatch the title on Sunday,” he said confidently.

The RBA league, which has attracted 14 men teams and eight women’s sides, will come to an end on Sunday.
Defending champions Savio opted out of the tournament last week in protest of a decision by Dar es Salaam Basketball to suspend their key players Jije Makani and Henry Mwinuka for alleged misconduct.