BAL's Kalahari Day 3 press conference

Tigers were saved in the eleventh hour when an injured Jackson Jr came in to save the day. Tigers were in control throughout the second half but down the wire, they saw a goal tending basket overturned, Ntore Habimana miss two free throws while Dundao scored two free throws to tie the game with less that 15 seconds to go. However, Jackson Jr had something else in mind when he sank a corner three to give Tigers a three-point lead with three seconds left.

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Coach Henry Mwinuka was accompagnied by Teafale Lenard Jr in the press conference. Coach Mwinuka praised his team for their ability to stay the course and fight until the end. He praised his Jackson Jr for his mental fortitude and his team for executing the plays. He emphasized that they are not where they want to be yet and that his team was able to find that chemistry despite starting training camp only two weeks prior to the start of the conference.

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Lenard Jr continued to be a human highlight with one emphatic play after another. However, he was overcome with emotion as he was still mourning the passing of his grandmother who meant the world to him. He dropped 26 points and snatcheed five steals in a nail-biting finish. He dedicated the game to her [his grandmother] who he believes was watching over him. He also knows that his team is in a much better position now despite all the challenges they faced.

Coach Valdeolmillos showed evident frustration with the outcome of the game. He first reiterated the importance of team chemistry. He praised his team for their defensive effort that allowed them to tie the game. He then criticised his players for not knowing the plays he drew up. This came when he drew up a play to tie the game with three seconds left but his players turned the ball over as the passer and the receiver were not in sync.

He then went on to speak about the disparity in the free throws awarded to them. He asked how it is possible for a team to shoot two free throws in the first half but 30 in the second half. He says that the game could have been better managed especially when it is that close. He tiptoed around his words with feline-like agility to ensure that he did not speak directly about the inconsistencies in the decisions the officials made. However, he believes that this break will serve to better prepare for their next games as they look to punch their ticket to Kigali.

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Coach Bradley Ibs was as jolly as always. This time, he was able to breathe a sigh of relief as his team won and revived their hopes of qualifying. He spoke about his team's grit because they went against a crowd that continued to cheer for the opposition. He said that they will dive deeper in their film analysis so that they can guarantee a better run to Kigali.

Alongside coach Ibs was Garang Diing. He missed Elite 16 in November dur to injury but he returned like he did not miss a step with 12 first quarter points and an equal feat in the fourth quarter all while shooting an efficient 75% from the field. He thanked his teammates for their unwavering support during his recovery. He said that they will continue to get better and improve their position from last year and punch a ticket to Kigali.

It was a different story for the host team, Giants. Coach Ngwenya had a different approach than when they lost the initial game where he said that losing [to Dar City 100-70] was the best thing that could happen to them. He was proven right as his team fought harder and almost won. They were able to limit NCT to only nine points in the third quarter while they scored 21 and tied the game. However, he admitted that the script changed because he now has to an uphill struggle ahead of him.

When asked what was the contributing factor to the loss, he attributed it to NCT grabbing 15 offensive rebounds - lamenting that they should limit teams to single-digit offensive rebounds. However, probably unbeknownst to him at the time, his team grabbed 13 offensive rebounds, shot the ball better and turned the ball over less. He stayed away from singling any of his players for their performance despite clear evidence that the production from some of his players are lower than expected. For example, captain Pieter Prinsloo grabbing only three rebounds and attempting only three shots in 31 minutes of basketball. There are also calls for a lack of adjustment in the fourth quarter to stop NCT's run in the fourth quarter.

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Alongside coach Ngwenya was his swingman, Joshua Ozabor. Ozabor bounced back from his first day woes to score 18 points, grab six rebounds and dish out five assists. The South African guard spoke about digging deep and giving his all to the team and to the fans. He also apologized to the fans for their body language after the game where they put their heads down as they left the court. He assured that it is not an act of abandon but just human frustration in the moment as they came so close.

He knows that the road ahead becomes more difficult but maintains confidence in his side to turn this around. The Giants have three games to play and it is imperative that they win all three in order to go to Kigali in May. They still have to play RSSB Tigers, Petro de Luanda and Al Ahly Benghazi.

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[Photography/Imagery Courtesy of FIBA, BAL and The Big Tip Off]