Road to BAL: Group C teams begin quest for Elite 16 slot

Fixtures October 19 Pazi BBC Vs Elan Coton KPA Vs Dynamo October 20 Dynamo Vs Pazi BBC; Elan Coton Vs KPA October 21 Pazi BBC Vs KPA Dynamo Vs Elan Coton Action in Dar es Salaam for this year's Road to BAL Group C gets underway on Thursday, October 19, with four teams battling for the single ticket to the next round of qualification. The winner of the group qualifies automatically to the Elite 16 round of the East Division due in Johannesburg, South Africa, from November14-19. ALSO READ: BAL qualifiers: FAP record huge win against Gabon’s Espoir Meet the teams There has been a new introduction in Elan Coton of Benin who ideally should have played in FIBA Africa Zone A but, due to unavoidable circumstances, they were moved to Group C. Replacing Ethiopia's Sebeta City, the Benin champions play Zone 5 sides Pazi BBC of Tanzania, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) of Kenya and Dynamo BBC of Burundi for the zone's sole ticket to Johannesburg. Elan Coton Founded in 2021, Elan Coton won the 2022 Beninese league championship and defeated Aspac BBC who had returned to the final after two years to defend the title and qualify for their second Road to BAL. The side made their Road to BAL debut in Niamey, Niger, in 2022 where they finished third in Group A with a 1-2 mark. They beat hosts AS Nigelec 75-65 to open their group before losing to Stade Malien and Abidjan Basket Club (ABC). They, however, received a wild card to play in last edition's Elite 16 where they lost their opening match to ABC Fighters of Cote d'Ivoire 96-59 before picking a 62-58 historic win over Moroccan side AS Sale. Elan Coton lost the final group match 62-57 to Bangui Sporting Club and failed to proceed to the knockout stage for a chance to qualify for the BAL Final 12. The Beninese champions begin their ticket hunt with a clash against hosts Pazi BBC who are making their debut in the BAL qualifiers, becoming the fourth club that Tanzania has produced for the prestigious competition. PAZI BBC The Tanzanian side is expected to field a strong side with the likelihood of former NBA player Hasheem Thabeet featuring. They have also acquired the services of highly sought-after guard Dhieu Deing who was part of the African team in this year’s 2023 GLOBL JAM tournament held in July and represented Cape Town Tigers in the previous Road to BAL edition. Landry Ndikumana, who has previously played for City Oilers of Uganda (2019), Burundi’s New Star (2021) and Urunani (2022) in the last three editions of the Road to BAL, also adds to the side's depth as they host the competition. Dynamo BBC Dynamo BBC return to the continental competition having featured in the qualifiers of the inaugural edition of the BAL held in 2021. They open their campaign against Kenyan champions KPA. Dynamo will, on their part, rely on the services of South Sudanese forward David ‘Dekong’ Deng who featured for Cobra in the 2022 edition of BAL. Nigerian teenage sensation Israel Otobo, who was part of the national team in their quest for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification earlier in the year, adds to Dynamo's versatile squad that also boasts the experienced Alvin Ninziza who captained the side to the 2022/23 national title. Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) The dockers have acquired the services of four key players in Lugman Lundy, Tyronne Jordan, both from the United States, Abdoulaye Haidara (Mali) and Bright Akhuetie (Nigeria), who are expected to play a key role on the court under the tutelage of French tactician Guy Arnaud. Kenya international Ariel Okall is also part of the squad.

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Road to BAL: Group C teams begin quest for Elite 16 slot