Basketball in Africa

The semi-finals of the National Basketball Championships kick off tonight at the University of Botswana (UB) Courts without a sponsor, the Botswana Basketball Association (BBA) has said.


Last year the tournament was sponsored by Broadhurst Inn and Northern Fixtures, but there have been no backers this year, BBA representative, Kabo Khama said. Khama said they started looking for sponsorship earlier than usual and approached more companies, but were unlucky.

Maybe we can also be blamed for not branding the tournament enough, but then again branding also depends on funds of which we do not have," he said. However, a positive is that the top four teams will be playing in new uniforms, courtesy of local sports wear brand, Dlala. The top four teams are 2011 league champions- Troopers, Spartans, Flames and Police in the order they finished on the log. Meanwhile, the semi-finals, which will be played on a best of three format, kick off at 7pm. The first game pits defending champions Troopers against Police, whilst Spartans take on Flames at 9pm. The tournament continues tomorrow. Khama said if the teams win one game against each other on both days they would face each other on Sunday. "If Flames and Spartans draw then their decider game would be played at 9am, while a draw between Troopers and Police would see them play their decider in the evening," he said.It would be anybody's games as Troopers, though remaining dominant, have not been at their best. Troopers were unconvincing in most of their league games this season.Flames are the most improved side and pose a threat to Troopers' dominance. It is the first time that they make the top four. League runners-up Spartans have been consistent throughout the season, while Police re unpredictable. The two teams that win this weekend will clash in the final next weekend. BDF V and Police V women's teams are through to the finals. The women's game promises to be a thriller as the teams have exchanged the title in the past two years.

The semi-finals of the National Basketball Championships kick off tonight at the University of Botswana (UB) Courts without a sponsor, the Botswana Basketball Association (BBA) has said. Last year the tournament was sponsored by Broadhurst Inn and Northern Fixtures, but there have been no backers this year, BBA representative, Kabo Khama said. Khama said they started looking for sponsorship earlier than usual and approached more companies, but were unlucky.