Tigers' Elite 16 Group A has familiar flavour to it
Cape Town Tigers are eyeing third qualification for the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and their route to the 2024 tournament is somewhat familiar.
JOHANNESBURG (South Africa) - Cape Town Tigers are eyeing third qualification for the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and their route to the 2024 season is somewhat familiar.
In this year's Elite 16 Division East Group A (21 November - 26 November), the Tigers again have to face the NBA Academy and a Burundian team, this time the Dynamo Basketball Club.
Debutants Pazi of Tanzania will have a face known to the South African team in former Tigers point guard Dheiu Deing.
In their last two Elite 16 campaigns, the South African champions have lost to Burundian teams (New Star and Urunani).
Pazi, who qualified for the Elite 16 unbeaten in their Road To BAL pre-qualifying group, are also a strong team.
Pieter Prinsloo
The Tigers have recruited some quality players to ensure they are competitive and qualify for the BAL.
BAL All-Defensive Team player Samkelo Cele has returned to the Tigers. The small forward's exploits during the final game of the Nile Conference saw his team qualify for the playoffs.
The Tigers will hope Cele, an All-American, has maintained his form and will deliver at both ends of the floor.
Small forward Terrence Ferguson, a former Oklahoma City Thunder player, comes with a winning pedigree. The 25-year-old is a gold medalist in FIBA continental and global competition for the USA's age group teams.
He also won an NBA G-League title with Rio Grande Valley Vipers in 2022.
Senegal's Lamine Diane, Caleb Magua (Australia), Cartier Diarra (USA) and Terry Larrier (USA) complete the Tigers contingent ahead of the Elite 16.
Team captain and centre Pieter Prinsloo, vice-captain Lebesa Selepe, guard Lebohang Mofokeng and backup centre Somusa Mthembu are part of the Tigers core.
The quartet have been a stabilising factor, and their presence in the Tigers setup will go a long way in helping them achieve the objective of qualifying for the BAL.
The Tigers qualified for the Elite 16 by virtue of competing in the third season of the BAL.
FIBA