JOHANNESBURG (South Africa) - Cape Town Tigers captain Pieter Prinsloo delivered an inspired performance for his club in the final Group F match of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualifiers held at the University of Johannesburg on Saturday.

Facing his former club, Ferroviario da Beira of Mozambique, Prinsloo seemed to have found form after struggling in the first two games against Roche-Bois Warriors and Matero Magic.

"WE HAD ALREADY QUALIFIED, BUT WE HAD THE MINDSET THAT WE WANTED TO FINISH THREE AND ZERO AND THEN FOCUS ON THE ELITE SIXTEEN. FOR US, THIS IS BIG."- Pieter Prinsloo

The big forward stepped up with a double-double (25 points and 15 rebounds) as the Tigers prevailed 86-85.

The two sides came into the final clash unbeaten and had made it to the next round of qualifiers. So at stake was only a psychological victory, and both teams made sure they left it all on the court.

Ferroviario da Beira were in control of the game from the right until the last five minutes of the final quarter.

The Mozambicans executed with precision and were clinical when they finished at the rim.

Canadian forward Jermel Kennedy (22) and American floor general William Perry (18) offensive sparks for Beira. Both players were threats from outside the three-point arc, with Kennedy landing four of his five three-point attempts and Perry was four for ten from three-point range.

Beira captain Ismael Nurmamade scored 11 points in the losing effort, but the day belonged to the Tigers and Prinsloo.

Prinsloo kept his team in the game with his three-point shooting, play in the interior and rebounding, especially in the fourth quarter.

Beira had a nine-point lead (80-71), but the 29-year-old  Prinsloo led the comeback with a lay-up, three-pointer and mid-range jumper put in the game within two points.

Evans Ganapamo

Unfortunately, the big man would foul out with Beira in the lead 84-83.

Prinsloo's absence at that critical stage of the game would not be a factor, as consistent scorer Evans Ganapamo, who finished with 24 points, landed a clutch three-pointer to win the game for the Tigers.

The Tigers captain acknowledged his struggles in the first two games, but when the moment called, he answered.

"We had already qualified, but we had the mindset that we wanted to finish three and zero and then focus on the elite sixteen. For us, this is big. We dug ourselves a hole in this match, but we overcame adversity and fought back," said Prinsloo. "I struggled offensively in the first two games, but good players find ways to get out of slumps. When big moments come, you have to show up. It was a big game, and I had a job to do. That's it!"

In the opening game, Matero Magic of Zambia ended the qualifiers victorious over Mauritian club Roches-Bois Warriors 95-43.

The islanders did give Matero a run for their money, finishing the first quarter a point down (18-17).  Warriors did put up a fight, but their opponents settled into a rhythm, and by the fifth minute of the second quarter Matero were 10 points up (34-24) and never looked back.

Matero forward Miles Ndalama was the top scorer for his team with 16 points. Three other players, Spoican Ngoma (14), Germaine Mauwe (13) and Jaylen Leroy (10), scored in double figures.

While Warriors team captain Howard Alexandrine was the standout player for the Mauritius club with 14 points.

Final standings of Group F of the BAL qualifiers:

1. Cape Town Tigers (3-0)*
2. Ferroviario da Beira (2-1)*
3. Matero Magic (1-2)
4. Roches-Bois Warriors (0-3)

* Cape Town and Ferroviario da Beira qualified to the Elite 16 Round.

FIBA