Munali Suns survived Harare Kings' fourth-quarter fightback to claim a narrow 70-69 win and remain unbeaten atop Road to BAL 2027 Group E. Douglas Kandulu grabbed 20 rebounds as the Suns extended their winning streak to four.
Last Updated on
November 2, 2026
Neither team shot well, with Munali making 26 of 70 from the field and Harare Kings 28 of 72. From three-point range, the Suns made 4 of 19 attempts while the Kings registered only 2 of 18 in an overall poor showing, and the two teams combined for just six triples on 37 attempts. On a night like that, extra possessions mattered, and Douglas Kandulu won the most.
Kandulu scored just nine points on 3-for-12 shooting, but he was still the most valuable player on the court. He grabbed 20 rebounds, including eight on offence, and added four assists and three blocks, finishing with a game-high efficiency rating of 23. Munali out-rebounded the Kings 54-46 and collected 21 offensive rebounds, compared to Harare's 15.
Ofure Ayodele Patrick Ujadughele led the Suns with 20 points on 8-of-20 shooting, including three triples, and played 36 of the 40 minutes. Frank Siame and Wamulundi Simwinga each added 11 points, with Simwinga more efficient at 5-of-8 shooting and nine rebounds. Christopher William Carter made the most of limited minutes, scoring 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting in under 15 minutes and finishing with the team's best plus-minus (+7).
Elijah Mukelabai struggled from the field but still added six assists and made 7 of 8 free throws for nine points. Those free throws mattered because the Suns were otherwise shaky at the line, converting only 14 of 27.The Harare Kings will look back at the first three quarters and wonder what could have been. They had fewer turnovers and shot better inside the arc, but missed too many three-pointers and had only 17 free-throw attempts compared to Munali's 27, which hurt their chances.
Munashe Makunde led the Kings with 19 points on 9-of-20 shooting, all inside the arc. Emmanuel Muteba Shine scored 17, went 7-for-9 at the line, and added three steals. Panashe Kaduya gave the Kings a lift off the bench with 10 points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks in 24 minutes.
The supporting cast also contributed to the points and rebound production. Dyvonne Pfachi had seven rebounds and four assists, Noah Jotham Penduka grabbed seven boards, and Tanaka Ndyara added eight points, six rebounds and three assists.
Munali built their lead during the middle of the game. They edged the first quarter 18-15, then took control in the second, outscoring the Kings 20-10 and turning a small lead into a 38-25 advantage at halftime. Harare scored just 25 points in the first half, and the Suns seemed in control.
The third quarter followed the same pattern, with the home side adding another 20 points to the Kings' 15 and going into the fourth ahead 58-40, the biggest lead of the night at 18 points. Munali held the lead for 33 minutes and one second of the 40, while Harare Kings led for just three minutes and 32 seconds.
The game then turned as the Suns scored only 12 points in the fourth quarter, while the Kings poured in 29. Interestingly, neither team had a big single burst all night: Harare's best run was 8-0 and Munali's was 6-0.
For Munali, this was a very different night from their earlier 40-point win in the group, the largest margin in Group E so far. The Suns built the lead they needed and then had to survive the pressure as it slipped away. For Harare Kings, a 29-point fourth quarter reminds them what they can do when they play with nothing to lose, and they will want to bring that energy from the opening tip next time.
Munali’s win puts them top of Group E as they go into the final day as the only unbeaten side, with four wins from four and eight points. Ferroviario da Beira and the Dolphins sit one point back on seven, both at 3-1, while Harare Kings and Bravehearts are level on five points after one win each, and Soweto Panthers are still looking for their first win in the series.
The group will be decided on Tuesday in Lusaka. Dolphins and Ferroviario da Beira will play first, with both teams just one point behind the leaders. Harare Kings and Bravehearts play next, and after such a close loss, the Kings will want to end on a high note. Munali, the home team, have an easier match against the bottom team, and a win would give the Suns a perfect 5-0 record and 10 points, which no other team can match in the series.
