NAIROBI (Kenya) - Cape Verde champions Kriol Star, the first side from the Island nation to play in the Elite 16, held their own against South Africa's MBB Blue Soldiers to pick a 63-58 win that propels them to the Semis.
Both sides came into the final group match on a 1-1 show, having won against Bravehearts but lost to Nairobi City Thunder in Group A.
The first quarter was closely fought, with the Islanders leading 17-15 but they pulled away with a 21-11 second quarter to take a 12-point advantage to the second half.
The Cyril Shabalala-cocahed MBB, however, punter a comeback in the second half, going 13-7 ahead in the third to make it a six-point game.
Benjamin Myburgh got action going in the final quarter from the free-throw line bringing MBB to within four points at 45-41 but Patrick McGlynn shot six, including his signature trey, to pull Kriol away.
Veteran Lebese Selepe's double treble in quick succession, with Joel Almeida grabbing one for the opponent in between maintained the difference at 57-53.
Bandile Nsele's fast break off a McGlynn turnover with seconds to go made it 59-57 and the match seemed to be headed for what would have been the day's third over time, but Hugo Salgado's men held on for victory.
TURNING POINT: Kriol's 10-point run in the second half of quarter two while restricting MBB to five proved monumental as the advantage assured Salgado's men some room to breathe when the South Africans mounted their comeback. HERO: McGlynn continue to prove a crucial asset for Kriols who had just four days to regroup after receiving their wild card to the Elite 16. He shot 4-of-11 on trebles to lead the Islanders with 20 points in the win. With his side under pressure in the dying seconds, he remained calm on possession to shoot from midrange and ensure the match ends in regulation time. Kenneti Mendes led the side's defense, pulling 13 boards. STATS DON'T LIE: Little separated the two sides on key statistics but Shabalala's charges will have themselves to blame for the loss, having missed 13 (12-25) from the line as opposed to Kriol's three (7-10). BOTTOM LINE: Kriol Star, against all odds, make the decider Semis on a 2-1 run. They came into the competition on a wild card after a 0-2 show in the Group Phase in Libya and are set to face Burundi's Urunani in the Last Four. THEY SAID: "I am incredibly proud of this group. We had a slow start but to come back the way we did and give ourselves a chance in the second half was a great show of what South Africa's basketball has to offer. Regardless, making our debut in the Elite 16 has been an amazing experience for all of us. It is a big platform to be on and we have picked valuable lessons that will definitely help us as we prepare to make it back to this stage," MBB forward Neo Mothiba. "Winning this game is a great achievement for us and for Cape Verde's basketball as it puts us in the decider match, which was our target coming in. We got a second opportunity to showcase that the Group Phase was not a representation of our basketball and I am happy we have repaid that faith in us with a great show. We will prepare for the Semis well aware we are up against a good side," Kriol Star guard Joel Almeida.
FIBA