NAIROBI (Kenya) - Four Teams, two slots! The East Division Elite 16 is down to the most important games of the six-day competition with hosts Nairobi City Thunder, Uganda's City Oilers, Burundi's Urunani and Cape Verde's Kriol Star in contention. Urunani, who are on a 7-0 run in the Road to BAL, play Kriol Star while neighbours Oilers and Thunder clash in the second Semi-Final. The winners of the semis book slots to the BAL 2025 season.
Urunani v Kriol Star (15:00 GMT)
Mamadou Pabi Gueye's men, Urunani, who played Oilers in the last Group B clash and overcame a 22-point deficit to win 78-75, hope to carry their momentum to the Semis as they take on Islanders, Kriol Star. The Burundians, who are making a return to Road to BAL since their 2022 exit in the Elite 16 Semi-Final, have been unplayable from the Group Phase.
Urunani picked wins against Tanzania's JKT (83-60), Seychelles Beau Vallon Heat (112-43), Nairobi City Thunder (89-88) and Madagascar's GNBC (112-56) to qualify for this stage where they have continued to impress.
They picked up from where they left going 87-34 against Matero Magic; 70-61 against Fox basketball before stunning Oilers 78-75, in a highly-anticipated duel that lived up to expectations. "I have full confidence in my team as we head to the semis. We reached the semis last time out but this year I feel we will qualify. We have to work hard on both ends of the court to go through," Urunani's Landry Ndikumana said. In contrast, a 100-77 loss to eventual winners Al Ahly Tripoli coupled with a close 81-76 defeat to another BAL-bound side Stade Malien in the West Division Group Phase competition hosted in Libya, Kriol were knocked out, but a wild card a few days before the East Division Elite 16 granted them a lifeline.
A maiden Road to BAL win in an 89-58 outcome against Bravehearts of Malawi followed by a 104-71 loss to Nairobi City Thunder, and finishing off with a 63-58 close call against South Africa's MBB Blue Soldiers, ensured the islanders are in one of the two decider games for the Division. "In this competition you cannot underestimate anyone. In the end we wanted it more than they did. This was, however, just one step towards qualifying. We have to remain hungry and prepare for the next one as it is against a tough opponent coming from an undefeated streak. Winning the last group match was a morale booster and we are now in a position to make history for us and for Cape Verde basketball," Joel Almeida offered.
Nairobi City Thunder v City Oilers (17:30 GMT)
The second Semi-Final pits the only side with BAL experience, City Oilers, against debutants and hosts Nairobi City Thunder who remain perfect after the group stage.
Andrew Tendo's Oilers are looking to qualify for the third time while Bradley Ibs' men are out to make history for Kenya as the first side from that country to reach the premier African men's club competition.
"We have to be consistent on both ends of the court. We cannot afford to have a drop in energy or focus because in tournaments like this a team can have good runs early but slip with one bad game and you're out. It is more mental for us on how to approach the semis and we have to approach it as if we are starting the tournament afresh," Tendo, whose side got a direct entry to the Elite 16, offered. On his part, Ibs, whose side got tested by Bravehearts on Sunday night says, while it is great to be 3-0 from the group stage, they did not play their best. The side made their debut in the Road to BAL on a high, going 3-1 in the Group Phase. Their only loss came in an 89-88 loss to Urunani.
The Thunder won their opening two games in the Elite 16, a 102-59 triumph against MBB and a 104-71 victory over Kriol Star before a 91-68 success against the Malawians.
"We came in a bit sluggish in the last match which we, obviously, cannot do in the Semis. We will address that as we look to be a little bit more focused as we start the Semis game. We have a deep squad that has shown their competitiveness, having fielded two different units and they have all brought their A-game, which is really good," coach Ibs said.
The winners of these semi-finals will join Al Ahli Tripoli and Stade Malien, who have secured the West Division's two tickets to the BAL 2025 season. Stay tuned on the tournament's website for the latest news.
FIBA