Eight teams assembled in Johannesburg with seven chasing qualification while the eighth, NBA Academy Africa, was using the competition as part of their build-up for upcoming NBA competitions in the USA.

Each of the eight teams played back-to-back three games, but in the end, only four of them remain in contention while three of the four teams head to the boardroom to reassess their performances.

It is the end of the road for Beira, who closed their Group B campaign in third place on a 1-2 mark, but for Oilers, work continues as they look to finish in the top three for another shot at the BAL. 

Eight games into the qualifier that will determine the last three slots for the fourth BAL season, six other teams still have chances of joining Cape Town Tigers in the Semi-Finals. 

The group remains open ahead of final group matches that will see the policemen play Harare-based JBC while Beira take on City Oilers. 

This is a perfect start for coach Lopez' charges who are hoping to make history as the first team to make a third consecutive  BAL appearance through the qualification process. 

Action at the Ellis Park Arena tips off on 21 November with four matches on the cards as teams face off in a round-robin preliminary round of four teams each. The top two in each group proceed to the...