Johnathan Jordan recorded 19 points, five rebounds and four assists, and four other FUS players scored in double figures as Morocco’s FUS Rabat defeated South Africa’s Cape Town Tigers 84-75 at Pretoria’s SunBet Arena, booking their ticket to the BAL Playoffs and Finals set to take place in Kigali, Rwanda in late May. With their third win in four games, FUS has finished the competition on top of the inaugural Kalahari Conference (3-1), followed by Angola’s Petro de Luanda (2-2) and the Tigers (1-3).
The Tigers were led by Samkelo Cele (24 points) and Billy Preston, who finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals. Nkosinathi Sibanyoni made his presence felt in the paint with seven rebounds and two blocks, but the Tigers will now have to wait for the outcomes of the Nile Conference (April 19-27) and the Sahara Conference (May 4-12), which will decide the eight teams to travel to Kigali.
Award-winning music artist Cassper Nyovest fired up the sold-out SunBet Arena with an electrifying halftime performance.
Throughout the past week, the BAL’s Kalahari Conference lineup of music artists included Nyovest, Robot Boii, Primo Baloyi, Maglera Doe Boy, Zee Nxumalo, and more. Many other sports and entertainment figures were seen at the tournament including Caster Semenya, Pearl Thusi, Sho Madjozi, Ronwen Williams, Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, two-time NBA All-Star Jakim Noah and 2011 NBA champion Ian Mahinmi.
Sho Madjozi and Pearl Thusi also participated in a unified game on March 10 as part of the BAL’s collaboration with Special Olympics South Africa.
One of the Kalahari Conference highlights was also Joakim Noah and Ian Mahinmi’s visit to NBA Store in Sandton, where they signed autographs, took photos and engaged with South African basketball fans.
