LUSAKA (Zambia) - Despite facing some adversity in the last game of the day on Monday, it was business as usual for the hosts, the Munali Suns. Ferroviario da Beira won their second game in a row, while the Dolphins added to the misery of the Soweto Panthers.
Here's a recap of the three games played in the Zambian capital on Monday.
Suns remain as only undefeated team (4-0)
The Munali Suns maintained control of the Road to BAL Group E on Monday night at the Nasdec Sports Complex, despite a scare.
Defeating Harare Kings 70-69, the Suns now stand at 4-0, securing their place in the Elite 16 East, set to take place in Kenya later this month.
Ofure Ojadughele scored 20 points, while Frank Siame and Wamuludi Simwinga added 11 points apiece. Simwinga also grabbed nine rebounds, propelling the Suns to a historic club achievement.
The Kings were led by Munashe Makunde with 19 points, while Emmanuel Shine added 17 and Panashe Kaduya contributed 10.
Munali did not let up in the second half. Ojadughele was the driving force behind his club's attack, scoring 14 points as the Zambian champions took a 38-25 lead in the first half.
However, the Suns made things difficult for themselves when they blew their 18-point lead (58-40) as the Kings slowly cut into it.
Makunde and Shine scored 21 points between them as the Kings harassed the Suns, especially in the final minute. Makunde scored back-to-back lay-ups from three turnovers, and Kaduya scored to make it a one-point game (70–69).
With seconds left and Munali in possession, the Kings made a costly mistake by letting the clock run down rather than committing a foul.
This was the narrowest win for the Munali Suns in the qualifier so far.
Dolphins still in with a shot at the Elite 16
On Monday, Botswana's Dolphins put themselves in a strong position to qualify for the Elite 16 Division East in Kenya.
By beating the Soweto Panthers 63–56, they improved their win–loss record to 3–1, the same as their next opponents, Ferroviario da Beira.
If the Dolphins finish second in Group E, they will be the first club from Botswana to reach the next stage of the Road to BAL.
The Dolphins were just as determined, albeit for different reasons. After losing to the host club, Munali Suns, the previous day, they still had a positive record and knew that another win would secure their place.
It was a hard-fought battle, with the Dolphins leading after the first (21–15) and second (33–31) quarters, while the Panthers took the third (45–43).
Dallan Coleman's scoring feats carried the Dolphins; from the first quarter, he was clearly on a mission, finishing with 30 points for the Gaborone club.
For the Panthers, Alioune Tew's double-double (19 points and 18 rebounds), Thabo Sithole's 18 points, and Sifiso Gininda's 11 points were part of the Soweto club's valiant but ultimately unsuccessful effort to turn their campaign around.
Beira cross 100-point mark in 29-point win over Bravehearts
Ferroviario de Beira continued their high-scoring streak in their Group E campaign on Monday.
They became the first team in Group E to score 100 points and equalled their biggest winning margin of 29 points when they beat Bravehearts 110–81.
This win puts Beira in a strong position to qualify for the Elite 16, as they are currently second in the standings with one more game to play on Tuesday.
Ismael Nurmamade led Beira's scoring with 27 points, while his American teammates Ke Tarrious Bouchum and Joshua Thomas added 22 points apiece. Ayad Munguambe contributed 16 points.
Beira dominated the second quarter. Their defensive pressure on the Bravehearts' ball handlers led to turnover points.
At different points in the second quarter, Thomas — who had scored 15 points in the first half — made three slam dunks from turnovers.
Munguambe and Bouchum had also scored in double figures as Beira headed into the fourth quarter with a 29-point lead (60–41).
The Bravehearts could not withstand Beira's onslaught in the third quarter, as the Mozambicans outscored the Malawians 36–16 and built a 39-point lead.
Within the first minute of the fourth quarter, Beira had built a 42-point lead (99-57), showing that the Malawians had fallen behind.
Coming Up Next
The 2027 Road to BAL Group E concludes on Tuesday, 3 November, with Ferroviario da Beira vs Dolphins grabbing the headlines. This match will determine which team secures the second automatic qualifying spot for the next round.
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