Dar City recovered from a heartbreaking 69-71 semi-final loss to Johannesburg Giants, dominating Ferroviario da Beira 92-77. Led by Putney, Zouzoua, and Thabeet, the Tanzanian side showcased resilience, execution, and composure in the Road to BAL Elite 16 third-place clash.
Last Updated on
November 23, 2025
Dar City bounced back with a commanding 92-77 win over Ferroviario da Beira in the Road to BAL East Division Elite 16 third-place game. The result came after their heartbreaking 69-71 loss to Johannesburg Giants in the semi-finals. Fans and analysts alike wondered if the Tanzanian side could mentally recover for the consolation showdown.
Third-place games in basketball tournaments are notoriously frustrating and odd, especially for players left to fight for little more than pride. Olympic basketball and FIBA continental tournaments remain the only competitions where athletes still exert maximal effort. Players often treat the bronze medal as optional, even when a podium finish has symbolic value.
This scenario perfectly captured the Road to BAL East Division Elite 16 third-place clash, featuring Dar City and CFV Beira. Both clubs had already lost their opportunity to compete in next year’s Basketball Africa League after losing to the Giants and Thunder. The game became a test of pride, composure, and professional resilience.
Dar City’s semi-final loss to Johannesburg Giants, 69-71, was far more dramatic than CFV Beira’s defeat. The Giants’ clutch defensive plays in the dying seconds ultimately sealed the outcome. Tanzanian supporters left the arena heartbroken but hopeful their team could respond.
Dar City opened the third-place game on a 3-12 run, immediately forcing the Mozambique-based club into a timeout. Beira executed their after-timeout play with Ke Tarrious Bouchum sinking a 2-point mid-range pull-up shot. Their porous defence allowed Dar City’s star Raphiael Putney to score off a slick Nisre Zouzoua assist at 5-14.
Putney and Zouzoua extended Dar City’s assault from the midway mark of the first quarter with a 3-9 run. Beira’s shooting and ball-handling struggles continued until Ismael Nurmamade finally scored their tenth point at 02:32. Dar City’s offensive pressure remained relentless, establishing early control and momentum against their fatigued opponents.
Former NBA center Hasheem Thabeet then widened Dar City’s advantage to 10-25 with a crucial basket in transition. The final minute of the quarter saw missed open shots and turnovers dominate. Zouzoua and Beira’s Joshua Thomas managed to salvage points to close the period at 12-27.
The second quarter began with Beira attempting a fightback, scoring 19 points but remaining behind Dar City’s 23. Raphiael Putney initiated a solo 2-7 run, pushing Dar City’s lead to 14-34. Beira’s Joshua Thomas and Hassan Drame responded with consecutive baskets, only for Thabeet to restore Dar City’s advantage at 19-36.
Thomas then went on a brief solo scoring surge, narrowing Dar City’s lead to twelve points at 24-36. Both teams exchanged buckets and poor defensive rotations over the next three minutes. Beira struggled to reduce the deficit as Dar City closed the first half on a 2-8 scoring burst to 31-50.
In the third quarter, Beira displayed renewed fight, posting 25 points and holding Dar City to only 19. Thabeet opened the quarter with a key basket following Nurmamade’s turnover. Helton Ubisse responded immediately for Beira, signalling a potential comeback, reducing the margin slightly.
Ubisse’s bucket sparked a 2-14 surge, cutting the gap to eleven points at 45-56. Dar City countered effectively with a 2-8 run to reassert control at 48-62. Both teams traded points as defensive lapses persisted, underscoring why neither reached the final in this tournament.
Dar City closed the game with 23 points in the fourth quarter while conceding 21 to Beira. The Tanzanian side shot a disappointing 27.3% from beyond the arc but generated 30 team assists. Dar City’s bench contributed only 2 points, while Beira’s impressive 36 highlighted depth disparities.
Despite turnovers and inconsistent shooting, Dar City’s composure and execution propelled them to a convincing 92-77 victory. Putney, Zouzoua, and Thabeet led the charge while setting the tempo for teammates.
Dar City ended their East Division Elite 16 campaign on a high note with 92 points against Ferroviario da Beira. Their ability to respond after a crushing semi-final loss demonstrated both character and skill. Fans left the arena satisfied, knowing the team delivered a professional, determined, and emphatic performance.
[Photography Courtesy of FIBA]
