Which 3 teams can join Cape Town in the Semi-Finals?

 

JOHANNESBURG (South Africa) - Four games! Three slots remain at stake for the Semi-Finals. This is the scenario that teams face in Gameday 3 of the Elite 16 East Division at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg.

For some, Thursday's Elite 16 action may signify the end of their Basketball Africa League (BAL) dream, but for others it'll be quite the opposite. It will be a major morale boost in the hope of joining Africa's premier basketball league.

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

City Oilers, Cape Town Tigers and NBA Academy Africa remain perfect with a  2-0 mark apiece although the Academy's results won't count as their participation aims to give its players international competition experience and exposure.

So who can qualify to the East Division Elite 16 Semi-Finals and who will go home on Thursday?

COSPN vs JBC (11:00 GMT+2)

The Malagasy champions played the game of their lives on Wednesday, beating two-time BAL participants Ferroviario da Beira 88-57. 

In so many ways, it was a huge result for a team chasing their first BAL appearance. The win not only saw the Policemen improve to 1-1 and sit second in Group B behind City Oilers and ahead of Beira, but it was also a major morale booster ahead of the clash against winless JBC.

COSPN stunned Ferroviario da Beira 88-57

The Zimbabwe champions have shown a tremendous competitive effort, but, somehow, offensively things aren't working according to plan.

To beat COSPN has become a must-do task for Addison Chiware's charges who risk returning to neighbouring Harare empty-handed.

As for COSPN, this is their toughest test of the season so far.

Cape Town Tigers vs NBA Academy Africa (14:00 GMT+2)

Tigers and Senegal-based NBA Academy Africa share top of Group A with 2-0 mark each, and, interestingly enough, both teams have a common history in the Elite 16.

NBA Academy Africa vs Cape Town Tigers, November 20, 2022

When the two sides faced off last year in Johannesburg, Cape Town prevailed 85-60. 

Last week, however, NBA Academy Africa stunned Cape Town (70-64) in a scrimmage in the build-up to the Elite 16. 

While Cape Town are already through to the Semi-Finals, this will be the Academy's last game in the Elite 16. 

Ferroviario da Beira vs City Oilers (17:00 GMT|+2)

Few saw it coming, but the Mozambican champions, who have passed their last two Elite 16 tests in 2021 and 2022 to qualify to the BAL, are now facing an uphill task in the qualifier.

Ferroviario da Beira vs City Oilers, November 24, 2022

When Beira and Oilers clashed in the 2022 Elite 16, the latter prevailed 88-72.

The Beira-based side must beat the undefeated Oilers or they'll depend on other teams' results, which wasn't necessarily their utmost goal heading to Johannesburg.

One more City Oilers win, and, it'll be part of job done for Mandy Juruni's team. 

Pazi vs Dynamo (20:00 GMT+2)

This is one of the highly-anticipated encounters of Gameday 3 as the champions of Tanzania and Burundi are yet to record a win in the Elite 16, but can still move to the Last Four.

Pazi BBC vs Dynamo, October 20, 2023

As recently as last month (October 20) Pazi out-classed Dynamo 71-62 in Group C in Dar es Salaam. 

Can Pazi do it again? Or, Can Dynamo return the favour? 

The winner of this East Africa affair will secure Group A's second ticket to the Semi-Finals.

FIBA