malvernmugadzikwa
Online Reporter
DEFENDING champions JBC got their Harare Basketball Association Super Six title defence off to a bright start when they emerged 75-65 victors over newboys Basket Hounds in Harare at the weekend.
However, the HBA Super Six League got off to a rocky start as a couple of teams failed to pitch-up on Saturday.
The Addison Chiware-coached JBC preserved their unbeaten run in the competition.
They are now unbeaten in 26 straight matches.
The victory also gave the defending champions the ideal send-off to the Road to the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Qualifiers, which are currently underway in South Africa.
JBC are angling to become the first Zimbabwean team to qualify for the lucrative Basketball Africa League, the continent’s biggest club basketball tournament.
The Harare-based outfit is in the final phase of the qualifiers — the Elite 16 Division East — and will be hoping for a top-two finish in their group to take them on the verge of qualifying for the 12-team tournament, which begins in March next year.
In South Africa, JBC are in Group B alongside Ferroviario da Beira (Mozambique), City Oilers (Uganda) and COSPN (Madagascar) in the Elite 16 Division East.
Back home, however, Leopards Academy and UZ Stars also registered opening weekend wins.
Leopards Academy beat Arcadia Bucs 80-65, while UZ Stars had a 20-0 walkover victory over Foxes.
In the women’s category, the match between defending champions Vixens and debutants Fillies was postponed, while UZ Sparks beat Harare City Hornets 82-25.
JBC women registered another walkover 20-0 victory against Greenstars, who failed to pitch-up.
Online Reporter