Dar City, ABC face off in game two of betPawa NBL title 2024
Vijana Queens and Don Bosco Lioness players compete in the ongoing betPawa National Basketball League on Dodoma’s Chinangali court. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- In that game, Dar City took control early, leading 29-16 in the first quarter and extending their lead to 15-13 in the second quarter, resulting in a half-time score of 44-29.
Dar es Salaam. Dar City will likely be searching for victory today over Army Basketball Club (ABC) to claim their first betPawa National Basketball League (NBL) title.
The two teams are meeting at Chinangali Park in Dodoma at 8pm, with ABC needing a win to level the series. In the first match, Dar City triumphed 97-48.
In that game, Dar City took control early, leading 29-16 in the first quarter and extending their lead to 15-13 in the second quarter, resulting in a half-time score of 44-29.
Led by Shin Brownlee, Thebeet Manka, Amin Mkosa, Gilbert Nijimbere, and Alinani Andrew, Dar City delivered a dominant third quarter with a staggering 31-7 run, effectively sealing the game. They maintained their dominance in the fourth quarter, closing with a 23-12 performance.
Dar City have sent a strong message with their performance, moving closer to securing the NBL title and a slot in next year's Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Defending champions JKT were eliminated in the quarterfinals, paving the way for a new champion. ABC, who have made history by qualifying for the finals in four consecutive seasons, must showcase their prowess to keep their title hopes alive.
Tonight’s match is a do-or-die situation for Tanzania's basketball giants. Records show that ABC won the 2021 title in Arusha by defeating Pazi, who avenged their loss by claiming the 2022 title in Dar es Salaam. In last year’s finals held in Dodoma, ABC lost to JKT Stars.
In the women’s semi-finals, BD Lioness from Dar es Salaam and Fox Divas from Mara shined in their respective matches.
BD Lioness displayed exceptional strength, defeating defending champions Vijana Queens 59-40 with sharp defence and clinical attack to secure their spot in the final.
In another semi-final, Fox Divas delivered a dominant performance, defeating JKT Stars 83-52 with high-energy play and efficient scoring. Both teams are now set for an exciting final, with Fox Divas needing to win yesterday’s Game 2 to face BD Lioness.
betPawa’s East Africa Regional Marketing Manager Borah Ndanyungu expressed excitement over the competition. She noted that players are motivated by the Locker Room Bonus (LRB), where each winning team member and four officials receive Sh140,000.
“Players have been excited about this initiative, and we anticipate a tough Game 2 as ABC are also targeting the bonus after missing out in the first match,” Borah said on the phone.
She added that betPawa has allocated Sh130 million for awards, including Sh14 million for prize money, with the remainder supporting the Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF).
The LRB initiative has been launched by betPawa across various sports in Africa. TBF Secretary General Mwenze Kabinda praised the tournament’s success, attributing it to the support from sponsors, including betPawa.
