DAR ES SALAAM (Tanzania) - Dar City becomes the first team in the 2026 Road to BAL to clinch their ticket to the Elite 16 round, after a hard-fought 83-70 win over Uganda's Namuwongo Blazers. Coming off a massive 102-50 victory over Comoros' Djabal, Dar City, cheered on by an enthusiastic crowd at the International School of Tanganyika (IST) Gymnasium, overcame a slow start to take the lead in the second quarter, going on to pick a convincing victory despite being put to the test by the Ugandan 2025 league finalists. Blazers found a solution for the lethal Raphiael Putney who set a scoring record with 55 against Djabal on the opening day, restricting him to just eight.
However, there was no answer for the experienced Deng Angok Yak Deng, and Nisre Zouzoua with Makhi Ahkim Mitchell's double-double sealing a much-needed win.
TURNING POINT: Blazers enjoyed momentum from the onset, racing to a 10-2 lead in the opening three minutes and the hosts were left playing catch-up in the opening quarter. Solo Diabate's layup off a Deng Angok Yak Deng assist made it 14-8 halfway through the quarter The Uganda side went on yet another run to lead 25-9, but a 13-point run for the hosts in the closing three minutes of the quarter saw the Dar es Salaam champions trail by 10 (32-22) heading to the second quarter. Tables turned in the second quarter as Solo Diabate got a 14-0 run going from the charity stripe, Deng Deng scoring six as Makhi Ahkim Mitchell levelled the score at 32, before Dar City stole the lead off the South Sudan international's dunk. John Wesley Murry scored Blazers first basket with 3:42 to play, contributing five quick points to see the two sides exchange leads at will. Makhi Ahkim Mitchell' dunk for the hosts with 1:25 to play made it 43-42, a couple of empty possessions in the last minute for either side leaving the hosts with the slim advantage at halftime. The see-saw continued in the third quarter, Murry's shot from range with just over four minutes left making it 51-49 in favour of the visitors, but that would be the last time the Ugandans led. Nisre Zouzoua scored five with Mitchell adding three down the stretch for 57-55 heading to the final quarter. Namuwongo continued the fight, Jaycson Ray Lavoughn Bereal Jr scoring two back-to-back baskets just when Dar seemed to be regaining their rhythm to bring his side to within a point at 65-64. Diabate assisted Zouzoua's trey while scoring a layup to cut Blazers' momentum, going on to dominate the remaining five minutes for victory. HERO: While the comeback was a massive team effort, Mitchell's influence was undeniable as he converted 7-for-10 on field goals to finish with 19 points, six less than the leading scorer Deng Deng, finishing his spectacular show with 12 rebounds, and three blocks for a game-high 29 in efficiency rating. Namuwongo's Jaycson Ray Lavoughn Bereal Jr was the game's top scorer with 28, but it was not enough to hand his side victory. STATS DON'T LIE: Dar City recovered from a 16-point deficit with a 71.79 percent shooting on two points, compared to Blazers' 50 percent conversion, making up for their three-point shooting as they dropped from 14-of-53 in game one to scoring 4-of-29. The hosts also relied on fast breaks, going 19-7 while dominating the paint 58-36. BOTTOM LINE: Namuwongo Blazers' hopes for a first BAL elite 16 now rest squarely on their performance against Comoros' Djabal as the top two sides qualify for the East Division final qualification round. Dar City, meanwhile, turn focus to the immensely competitive Elite 16 with hopes of making history for their nation by qualifying for BAL. Pazi BBC, the only other Tanzania side to reach the Elite 16 back in 2023 failed to advance past the group stage.
FIBA