Can Perry power Beira in the race for a third straight BAL ticket?
Except for some teams with automatic qualification to the Basketball Africa League (BAL) not a single team has ever made it to the BAL season three times in a row after going through the BAL qualifiers.
BEIRA (Mozambique) - Except for some teams with automatic qualification to the Basketball Africa League (BAL) not a single team has ever made it to the BAL season three times in a row after going through the Road to BAL qualifiers.
Last month Guinea's SLAC became the latest side to come up short of a third straight appearance in Africa's premier basketball league after finishing 1-2 in the West Division Elite 16 last in Yaounde.
With the start of the East Division Elite 16 just around the corner (November 21), two other teams - Ferroviario da Beira and Cape Town Tigers - will try to rewrite the Road to BAL narrative.
Ferroviario da Beira vs Cape Town Tigers, November 2022
Beira and Cape Town have faced each other countless times in recent times, and although they are drawn in separate groups there is still a chance of a rematch if both reach the East Division Elite Semi-Finals.
Unlike South Africa, Mozambique has had a representative in every edition of the BAL so far thanks to Ferroviario de Maputo's appearance in the inaugural BAL season.
The Beira-based side has kept most of its roster from the last BAL season, but the Luiz Lopez-coached team has added Cape Verde international Kenneti Mendes. Another massive addition to Beira is the return of Mozambique international Helton Ubisse who sat out the last BAL season due to health issues.
Ferroviario da Beira
William Perry has played a huge role in helping Ferroviario da Beira reach the 2023 BAL Quarter-Finals.
But, can Perry go a step further and power Beira in the race for its third straight BAL ticket?
Beira face tough tests when they take on City Oilers, COSPN and JBC in Group B.
ICE IN HIS VEINS 🧊
— Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) May 1, 2023
Will Perry comes up huge to lead @cfvbeira to their first win in the Nile Conference with 41 points (8-13 3PM) and ties the all-time scoring record in one game!#TheBAL pic.twitter.com/w4ZpX4h3lK
Perry has become a household on the continent for his three-point shooting prowess while Young's energetic style of play can be a difference-maker for Beira.
The teams that finish in the top two places of Groups A and B of the Elite 16 advance to the Semi-Finals where the winners will qualify for the BAL Season 4. The last ticket will be determined in the Third-Place Game.
FIBA