BuzzerBeater Forums

Nice win. Way to go!

Nice summaries ! (i read these only tonight that's a great job!)

Hope the best for you on sunday, that will be tough i think, Egypt has a really strong team ! For us, finish on 3rd is really an achievement !

SPRINGBOKS STROLL PAST NIGERIA, INTO WORLDS 107-61

Kefentse Solomons led five Springboks in double figures as the RSA rolled past outmanned Nigeria 107-61. Coach Lambini said afterwards "This was the game we played to get to, and now that the birth in worlds is assured we can finally stop dreaming and start scheming to see what we can do to claim the Afrobasket championship! Just as anticipated Egypt looks a lot more focused this week compared to last. I really think they had a little bit of a let down last time against us, sure we played well, but we played with more intensity. This time I expect their staff to match our emotional pitch. But this is a group that believes in themselves, and who believe in each other. We have some great managers who have developed these charges, but our collective methods have been more free range as opposed to the tightly regimented methods of what I see as a near Soviet Bloc mindset. They may be more finely tuned, but I think there is not a u21 program in the world who is having more unbrided joy in the road they have traveled. Now it is time to see if there is a way to take that final step. No matter the result it has been a pleasure to make this journey." Awaiting the "baby Boks" will be the aforementioned Egyptians who turned back Tunisia with ease 82-43.

No in depth dive on the progress this week. Those of you who saw pops know who you are! Thanks to everyone who has been part of this process.

Now we move on to the final. Advancement to worlds has been secured, but now we have to see if we can stun the buzzer beater world by taking down a Egypt team that is looking quite robust. Our reset was good but not quite great and theirs was exemplary so the task is just that much tougher. I will say this, we will go into this game with literally the most enthusiasm possible. Look on the team home page here in a bit for a new press release to set the stage of battle.

SPRINGBOKS STYMIED IN FINAL, FALL TO EGYPT 68-49


For over three periods your Springboks stood toe to toe with the best squad the continent has to offer, but in the end a 16-2 spurt over the final eight minutes sealed the RSA fate as Egypt claimed their second straight Afrobasket championship 68-49 in front of a feverish crowd of 6008 at Hurricanes Arena.

Montsho Mthebe and Fabian Pöll led all scorers with 22 and 17 respectively but a lack of support from elsewhere sabotaged the Springboks chances. " Egypt is the real deal, you can't win if you can't score and they shut us down when it counted most. I tip my hat to them." Coach Lambini said afterwards. "I told the guys I am extraordinary proud of them for the season we had. These guys put forth all they could, there is no shame in falling to a team like that. It gives us a blueprint of what to shoot for going ahead. It was a great run. For those moving on I wish for them only the best. For those returning I eagerly await the challenge the world's represent. What I hope is that this season can serve as a launching point within this community to help build a deeper program, we have some great managers I hope this inspires them to make the program better."

Congrats on a great season

Very nice season. Keep up the good work!