Road To BAL Group E Roundup: Zone 6’s Road to BAL qualifiers delivered five relentless days of action, as Johannesburg Giants stayed unbeaten, Beira clinched early qualification, and hosts Matero Magic claimed the final Elite 16 spot in a physically and mentally demanding tournament.
Last Updated on
November 7, 2025
The tournament took place in Lusaka, Zambia, from October 28 to November 1, where six clubs represented their nations in the hopes of qualifying for the Elite 16 in Kenya.
The Johannesburg Giants sought to extend their unbeaten streak in their domestic league run, while Ferroviario da Beira aimed to return to the Basketball Africa League (BAL), while hosts Matero Magic sought to improve their performance from last year and secure a BAL appearance.
All teams played five games in five days. Needless to say, the compacted schedule took a serious toll on the players, not just physically, but also mentally. This was exacerbated for the Giants as they were unable to clear some members of their squad, including two-guard Dylan Lele, leaving the South Africa-based club with only ten players.
On day one, Beira completely outclassed the Houndz, winning 94-60. American guard Josh Thomas powered his team's performance, setting the tone for the competition. Giants defeated Bravehearts 67-49, powered by Aviwe Mahlong. In the last game of the day, the hosts, Matero Magic, narrowly escaped the Dolphins of Botswana with a 68-59 win.
On day two, the Giants opened the proceedings with a 79-65 win over the Houndz of Zimbabwe. South African guard Nino Dim put on a show with emphatic dunks and spectacular blocks. Bravehearts bounced back as they diligently closed out the Dolphins 68-59, powered by Smith Kirk. In the final game of the day, the hosts fell to Beira by a score of 94-83. A game with end-to-end highlights from jump ball.
The Giants defeated the Dolphins 55-36 in a low-scoring game where signs of fatigue began to show in the decision-making and execution of both sides. Beira showed no signs of slowing down when they narrowly defeated Bravehearts 94-88. They held their nerves and saw the game through. The final game of the day was a gift to all fans as the home side defeated Houndz 102-97 in overtime. A game driven by emotions and controversial calls that saw some ejected, including Coach Russy of Houndz.
On the fourth day, Beira dismissed Dolphins 82-70. Beira booked their much-sought-after ticket to Nairobi for the Elite 16 with this win, but aimed to go undefeated. Bravehearts then defeated a battered Houndz 82-60, who seemed to throw in the towel after what they considered biased officiating in favour of the hosts the night prior. The Giants made a statement after outclassing Matero Magic and defeating them 84-62, with a first-quarter score of 25-5.
Every game on the final day was a blockbuster. First, the Houndz vs. Dolphins game was for bragging rights, as both teams were still winless. Giants vs Beira was to see who would go undefeated and get the highest ranking in the competition. Magic vs. Bravehearts was for the final ticket to the Elite 16, as both teams were tied at 2-2.
Dolphins established themselves early on, winning 85-60 against Houndz. The Giants then cemented their unbeaten status by defeating Beira 77-68. Pieter Prinsloo put on a shooting clinic with the 6'10 forward, knocking down seven shots from beyond the arc. Magic then claimed the final ticket to Nairobi when they defeated Bravehearts 74-59.
Though Bravehearts did not qualify, they remain hopeful that FIBA will grant them the wild card to Nairobi. The Giants went undefeated despite not having any imports. The Elite 16 competition will be a significant leap from the earlier qualifiers, a fact that Giants' Head Coach Flosh Ngweny will need to be aware of.
Road To BAL also shed a light on some local talents that are on the rise and will make a mark in the years to come. They further showed that the future of African Basketball is in great hands, as there is a golden generation emerging from the previously dormant Zone 6.
[Photography Courtesy of FIBA/Road to BAL]
