ANTSIRABE (Madagascar) - Malagasy side Gendarmerie Nationale Basketball Club (GNBC) are looking to do something special in Kigali when the inaugural Basketball Africa League (BAL) gets underway Sunday.

The islanders will try to conquer the first-ever BAL trophy, and for this do-or-die campaign, GNBC have added some new recruits.

The inaugural 12-team BAL will run from May 16-30. 

"THIS BAL MEANS THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO SEIZE. THE PLAYERS ARE OUT TO SHOWCASE THEIR SKILLS AND LEARN FROM EVERY GAME THEY WILL BE PLAYING. I'M SURE IT WILL DEFINITELY HELP BASKETBALL GROW IN OUR COUNTRY."
Lova Navalona

The 2018-19 Malagasy champions have signed US-born power forward Cameron Ridley and Madagascar international point guard, Kiady Mijoro Razanamahenina.

"These two players have their experience speaking for them. Ridley is to bring weight to our offensive side while Razanamahenina is to be one of our point guards," GNBC head coach Lova Navalona told FIBA.basketball as the team gears up to the highly-anticipated BAL.

True enough, 6ft 9in (2.06m) Ridley is a piece GNBC lacked during the second round of BAL Qualifiers in December 2020 in Kigali.

"We needed someone to be more aggressive on the rebounds, both offensive and defensive. Ridley is to bring just that," the play-caller added.

 
On the other side, GNBC will rely on Madagascar's new poster-boy Razanamahenina, who will act as playmaker.

"He's back from an intense and impressive 2021 FIBA AfroBasket Qualifiers campaign, where he showed what he was capable of," notes the Malagasy coach.

But apart from these two players, the blue and white outfit can count on local superstars, sharpshooters Elly Randriamampionona and Fabrice Constant Mandimbison, who both average double digits during the previous games.

In fact, GNBC could have been a mirror of the national squad.

Elly Randriamampionona's sharpshooting skills will be useful in Kigali

"Some of our players have suited up for the national team. Their experience of international games and their exposure will be useful in a context where every point counts and where every game promises to be tough," Navalona noted.

For the time being, the only opponent they are facing is the current pandemic. For the past two weeks, the players have been placed inside a bubble. They are avoiding contact with the local population, as a positive COVID-19 test result could ruin their plans.

GNBC can be considered the surprise guest of this BAL, as they recorded a 6-3 mark in the BAL Qualifiers, only giving in twice to Patriots BBC and once to Kenya Ports Authority in 2019.

Their most remarkable feat is the victory they claimed against Mozambique champions Ferroviario Maputo when Randriamampionona and Mandimbison powered the Malagasy side to a 94-90 triumph with each scoring 22 points.

GNBC have been drawn against Nigeria's Rivers Hoopers, Tunisia's US Monastir and old acquaintances Patriots BBC from Rwanda.

They know that things will be tough in Kigali.

Lova Navalona is seen addressing his team during the BAL Qualifiers in December 2019

"We are determined to do our very best to upset our opponents. We want to go as far as possible, and eventually win the tournament. If we do not succeed, at least, we will grab much experience during our stay in Kigali," says an optimistic  Navalona.

He added: "This BAL means that there are opportunities to seize. The players are out to showcase their skills and learn from every game they will be playing. I'm sure it will definitely help basketball grow in our country."

FIBA