KIBAHA (Tanzania) - In an exciting final on Saturday, 24 October at the Filbert Bayi Olympafrica Centre in Kibaha, REG defeated familiar rivals APR, the 2025 regional tournament holders.
Meanwhile, the Fox Divas stunned the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), a team they had lost 90–60 to in the group phase, to become the first Tanzanian team to reach the podium at the Zone Five qualifiers. They settled for third place.
Here's how the final day's action unfolded in Kibaha!
REG are the champions of the 2026 WBLA Zone 5 Qualifiers
The Cheikh Sarr-coached side had Kayana Traylor and Delicia Washington leading the offensive charge in an 84-77 victory that was all but decided in a second-quarter dominance that saw APR held to just nine points.
Traylor and Destiney Philoxy got REG off to a flying start with some long-range shots, making an early statement of intent.
Despite trailing early on, APR matched the pace to finish the opening period just two points behind (22-20).
However, APR had a second quarter to forget. They scored twice in the paint and once from range as REG shut them down 23-9, carrying a 16-point (45-29) advantage into the second half.
This proved crucial in the second half when APR attempted a comeback, winning the two quarters 26-20 to reduce their deficit to 10, and then losing by seven with a final score of 22-19.
Traylor anchored REG, scoring 25 points and shooting 4-of-5 from inside, missing only once in nine attempts from the line.
She also contributed five rebounds and two assists, finishing with a team-high efficiency rating of 21. Washington, who was also on the floor for the full 40 minutes, contributed 18 points, five rebounds, and five assists, as well as two steals.
Coach Sarr rotated just seven players in the high-stakes encounter, with five hitting double digits.
Philoxy tallied 16 points, three rebounds, and three steals in under 29 minutes, while Kristina King scored 11 points and pulled down four rebounds.
The other player in double digits was Malian forward Kadidia Maiga, who scored 10 points and had six rebounds, three assists and three blocks, completing a solid performance for the champions.
Fox Divas stun KPA to finish third
Last year, KPA, the 2023 WBLA silver medallists, finished third before receiving a wildcard for the Final Tournament, which was hosted in Cairo.
They must have been hoping for a repeat performance against the home side, the Fox Divas.
However, the game was a different ball game.
Although the Kenyans won the previous encounter in the group phase, the Tanzanians held their own this time to emerge victorious.
Evelyne Nakiyingi and Hope Akello anchored the Divas' offence, scoring 31 and 25 points respectively; the latter also collected 15 rebounds to complete a double-double.
Power forward Gift Kaonga scored 14 points and collected 17 rebounds to complete a double-double. Jescal Ngisaise (18) and Judith Pantaleo (10) also scored in double digits.
KPA's charge was led by Tonie Morgan, who scored a game-high 33 points and came within two assists of achieving a double-double.
Victoria Reynolds (19), Alima Doumbia (18), and Christine Akinyi (11) also made significant contributions to the Dockers' efforts, but ultimately fell short.
In a game with 11 lead changes and six ties, KPA matched Divas in many respects, but were out-rebounded 39–21, denying them crucial scoring opportunities.
The Kenyan champions scored 19 points off the Foxes' 21 turnovers, but could not secure victory in a game in which they turned the ball over just five times.
Final Standings of the 2026 WBLA Zone 5 Qualifiers
1. REG (Rwanda) 6-0* 2. APR (Rwanda) 5-1* 3. Fox Divas (Tanzania) 3-3 4. KPA (Kenya) 3-3 5. Dynamo (Burundi) 2-4 6. Les Hippos (Burundi) 3-3 7. Equity Hawks (Kenya) 2-4 8. Vijana (Tanzania) 0-6 * Qualified for the 2026 FIBA WBLA to be held in Cairo, Egypt, from December 11-20. FIBA