DAR ES SALAAM (Tanzania) - Pazi BC did the improbable by becoming the first Tanzanian team to qualify for the Basketball Africa League (BAL) East Division Elite 16.

In the qualifying matches played at their own backyard in Dar es Salaam last month, the Tanzanian champions went 3-0 whipping the opposition including Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Burundian champions Dynamo and Benin's top team Elan Coton.

Tired of being the bridesmaid, this time round, Tanzania will be present in the altar in South Africa for the festival that will determine the three teams to join already confirmed nine - six from the previous championship and three from the just concluded West Division in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Baraka Athumani

While the Group C tournament in Dar was the easier part, the tougher mountain to scale will be miles away on the floor in Johannesburg, South Africa from November 21-26.

And their opponents in the eight-team duel will be South Africa champions Cape Town Tigers, NBA Academy Africa and Dynamo, a team they successfully rubbed shoulders against in their group Qualifiers.

Tanzanian Henry Mwinuka has helped Rwanda's REG qualify to two straight BAL seasons

Roared on by their raucous fans at the IST Gymnasium, Pazi did not disappoint, getting their Group C campaign off with a 71-62 triumph over Dynamo. They thumped Elan Coton 78-65 before piping KPA 69-67 in a dramatic cliff hanger of a show.

The player who put a huge smile on many faces in Tanzania was Baraka Sadick Athumani. His agonising last gasp effort sent a delirious Dar crowd honking as KPA chins sagged onto their chests in disbelief.

They have waited for years for a moment like this. Now they were in seventh and Sadick's heroics will forever remain etched in their minds for many years to come. It was unreal. 

 Dhieu Abwok Deing 

When the 7ft 3 inch (2.21m) Hasheem Thabeet was drafted second overall in the NBA by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2009, the whole region was a buzz. Now the home fans had the opportunity of watching their star and he did not disappoint.

The 36 year-old center for once showed his true colors in the final game against KPA as he finished the job with 12 points, hauling down 15 rebounds and redirected 7 shots into the stands. His collossal presence on defense was immense for Pazi.

The other key ingredient was South Sudan star Dhieu Abwok Deig who was a real inspiration. He was the engine that kept Pazi machine smoothly rolling. He logged 40 minutes in that decider while contributing a game -high of 24 points.

The experience of Lady Ndikumana, who has three Road to BAL outings for City Oilers of Uganda (2019), Burundi sides New Stars (2021) and Urunani (2022), will prove crucial to the team's effort for recognition.

Pazi entered the free-agency market, and brought in two-time BAL participant Cleveland Thomas Jr, a former REG guard/forward.

Their performances out there did put a smile on the faces of Tanzania's insatiable fans who showed up in big numbers to support their heroes.

The Henry Mwinuka-coached Pazi will look to complete the job in Johannesburg. But after their heroics, he admitted that there is need to reinforce the squad because what lies ahead is huge. But they will go out there armed and rearing to go.

Pazi learnt their lessons from the home Qualifier and one thing the team's technical bench must desist from is to send players out there for full 40 minutes of action- at this level, it will be highly suicidal.

Whatever happens in South Africa, one thing is for sure, Pazi and Tanzania basketball has made a great leap forward and it is a move in the right direction that will catapult them to greater heights.

FIBA