LUSAKA (Zambia) - Group E of the 2026 Road to BAL East Division entered its second day in Lusaka, on Wednesday with two teams extending their winning streak and another bouncing back to revive their campaign in the Zambian capital.
Mozambican reigning champions Ferroviario da Beira and South Africa's Johannesburg Giants claimed their second victories, as Malawi's Bravehearts brushed off Dolphins.
Reigning Mozambican champions Ferroviario da Beira and South African team Johannesburg Giants claimed their second victories, while Malawi's Bravehearts brushed aside Dolphins.
See below for a recap of game day two of Group E at Lusaka Nasdec's basketball court.
Beira's experience shines through against Matero
In the final anticipated game on Wednesday between the hosts, Matero Magic, and the two-time Basketball Africa League (BAL) participants, Ferroviario da Beira, the visiting team emerged victorious.
This was Beira's second win in as many games in Lusaka.
Ayad Munguambe's 24 points set the tone for Beira, whose strong second-half performance secured their 94–83 victory over Matero Magic.
Munguambe's teammates Ketorrious Bouchum and Joshua Thomas scored 20 and 19 points respectively, while Ermelindo Novela, who was lethal from the arc (4/8), scored 13.
Matero's top scorer was Lars Ishimwe with 19 points. His teammates Elijah Mukalebai and Corey Boyd scored 15 points each, and Omar Thielmans scored 14.
Munguambe was 7-for-12 from the floor and made all four of his free throw attempts.
Bouchum shot 8 for 14 while grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out four assists.
The game was intense from the first quarter, with Matero finishing with a single-digit lead (27–26).
In the second quarter, Beira seized the initiative and finished the quarter strongly (53-46), leading by five points.
Ishimwe scored 17 points in the second half for the Magic, making 6 out of 12 attempts, including 3 out of 7 inside the paint and 3 out of 5 at the three-point line.
In the second half, Ferroviario's experience of top-level competition came to the fore as they pulled away from the host club.
Giants outmuscle the Hounds
In Wednesday's opening game, the Johannesburg Giants fended off the Basket Hounds, winning 79–65 and moving to 2–0 in the group.
Joshua Ozabor's team scored 18 points, while Pieter Prinsloo and Nino Dim added 17 apiece, helping the Giants maintain their perfect record.
Nkosinathi Sibanyoni contributed a double-double (10 points and 12 rebounds) to the Giants' cause.
Meanwhile, Innocent Zhomwa finished with 18 points, Vitalis Chikoko scored 16, and Tanaka Ndyara contributed 15.
Veteran big man and captain Prinsloo (11 points) and explosive guard Dim (12 points) gave the Giants the lead (47–49) in the first half.
Prinsloo was on form from behind the arc, landing three of his seven three-point attempts. Dim attacked the paint, making four of seven shots inside, and he also went to the charity stripe five times, making four attempts.
The Giants had a 31-point lead (50-29) early in the third quarter, but the Hounds reduced the deficit to 16 (65-49) going into the fourth.
The Hounds went on a 10-point run with baskets from Chikoko (four points), Kamani Morris (two points) and Ndyara (four points), reducing the Giants' lead to nine (67–58). An Ndyara three after a Dim free throw made it a seven-point game (68–61).
The Giants stopped the Hounds' comeback with a six-point run (73–61), eventually winning by 14 points.
Bravehearts survive the Dolphins' fight back
The Bravehearts needed great determination to secure their first win of the qualifiers.
The Malawian club overcame a determined Dolphins team, who lost their opening game last night against the host club, Matero Magic.
Having suffered defeat at the hands of the Johannesburg Giants in their opening game, the Bravehearts emerged victorious with a score of 68–59 over the club from Botswana.
Kirk Smith led the Bravehearts with a double-double (17 points and 16 rebounds), while Ian Limbe scored 14 points. The latter also had five assists and four steals.
Despite keeping pace with the Bravehearts in the first quarter and finishing with a narrow lead of 18–17, the Dolphins began to falter in the second.
The Bravehearts took control for the remainder of the game and held their nerve until the end.
Group E Standings after Game-day 2 in Lusaka (October 29)
Ferroviario da Beira (2-0) Johannesburg Giants (2-0) Matero Magic (1-1) Bravehearts (1-1) Dolphins (0-2) Hounds (0-2)
FIBA