Basketball in Africa

DEFENDING champions, UNZA Pacers beat Matero Magic in the semi finals of the Zambia Basketball Association (ZBA) 2013 Sprite National championships to set up an exciting final against Napsa Hurricanes.
Shells will defend their women's title against UNZA Honeys during the three series finals to be held at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in Lusaka.
In the men's semi finals, Pacers lost the second game 59-63 to Magic but advanced having won the first match 64-49 to sail through having gained 15 points from the set of two matches played at the weekend.
Hurricanes sealed their place after overcoming LCC Looters 79-78 in a tightly contested first match before recording a 76-66 win in the second match.
And both Pacers and Hurricanes coaches have expressed confidence of emerging champions this weekend.
Pacers coach Cuthbert Tembo said his players were ready to face Hurricanes having beaten and eliminated a stronger side in Matero Magic while Mwape Konsolo described the final as a grudge match to settle old scores against a Pacers side that beat Hurricanes twice in the regular league.
Meanwhile, Shells beat a determined Green Buffaloes to reach the finals where they will face Honeys, who eliminated league newcomers Napsa Breeze.
Shells beat Buffaloes 72-69 in the first game before registering a 79-70 win while Honeys recorded 61-41 and 73-50 wins over Breeze.
Coach Martin Muchena was confident that Shells will go on and defend the title following their emphatic wins over Buffaloes but predicated a tough game against Honeys, which will be a repeat of last year's final.
"Playing the UNZA Honeys in the finals will be tough but we are ready to take them on and retain our title," Muchena said.