Ferroviario da Beira strengthened their campaign in the East Division Elite 16 by edging Magical Matero in a tense contest, relying on collective discipline, balanced production and timely execution to stay unbeaten and reinforce their position in the tournament.
Last Updated on
November 21, 2025
The highly anticipated clash produced a tense finish, but the critical moment came from Ayad Munguambe, who converted an open perimeter attempt that ultimately separated the two sides. His shot arrived after a sequence of errors and pressure-filled possessions that had shifted momentum several times during the closing minutes.
Both teams were already familiar with one another after meeting in the earlier stage of the tournament. That previous encounter contributed to a competitive tone, with Matero refusing to fold despite falling behind by 17 points in the first half.
Their determination allowed them to gradually chip away at the deficit and turn the last quarter into a tight exchange.
The decisive stretch began inside the final minute. With Ferroviario holding a slim advantage, an errant pass by Ermelindo Novela allowed Corey Boyd to score in transition, giving Matero an 87–86 edge.
At that point, the Zambian club needed only one strong defensive stand to complete their comeback. Instead, a lapse on the right wing left Munguambe free, and he used the space to take and make the long-distance effort that sealed Beira’s victory. The bench led by Chandler Easton Livingston Simon could only watch as the attempt dropped.
Earlier, Ferroviario had controlled the opening two quarters 22–17 and 31–28 for a 53–45 lead at the interval. That cushion might have been larger, but Matero closed the half with seven unanswered points, capped by a long-range shot at the horn from Zaid Christopher Hearst. The sequence revived their confidence heading into the locker room.
The third period opened with a score from Helton Ubisse, but Matero responded immediately through Mukelabai, whose athletic plays initiated their strongest phase. Two powerful finishes off turnovers trimmed the gap to four, prompting a Beira timeout.
Shortly after, Hearst intercepted a pass from Munguambe and drove inside for another basket that pushed the Zambian club in front. On the following possession, Munguambe lost the ball again, this time to Mukelabai.
Marc Seylan helped maintain Matero’s surge. After missing consecutive attempts at the rim, he collected both rebounds and put the ball in to level at 55–55. Another turnover created a fast-break opportunity, resulting in a Seylan three-pointer that extended the run to 61–55. The pressure continued until the quarter ended with Matero leading 73–66. Beira managed to regain control early in the fourth.
Ismael Nurmamade and Novela hit outside shots to reduce the margin to a single point. Munguambe then added another deep basket, moving the Mozambican unit back in front at 77–76 and resetting the flow of the contest.
The endgame remained tight, but Ferroviario’s individual contributions across the roster proved decisive. Nurmamade finished with 22 points, producing 14 of those after the break. He converted efficiently in the lane and added scoring from beyond the arc and the free-throw line. Inside, Ke Tarrious Bouchum delivered major support with 17 rebounds and 14 points, giving Beira second chances and stability in crowded areas.
For Matero, Mukelabai provided 26 points and was central to their push during the middle stages. Without his scoring and defensive activity, the Zambian team would not have reached the final moments with a realistic chance. However, their late errors, combined with Beira’s execution on the final possession, determined the outcome.
[Photography: Courtesy of FIBA/Road to BAL]
