Dolphins become Botswana’s first basketball club to reach the Road to BAL Elite 16 after finishing their Lusaka campaign with three wins
BONGANI MALUNGA
Dolphins Basketball Club have broken new ground for Botswana basketball after becoming the country’s first club to advance to the Road to BAL Elite 16, completing their Group E campaign in Lusaka with a 3-2 record.
The Botswana champions sealed the historic progression despite losing their final match against Mozambican heavyweights Ferroviário da Beira on Tuesday, completing a campaign in which they transformed themselves from previous preliminary-round casualties into continental contenders.
FIBA had already identified Dolphins as being on the brink of history after their fourth match, noting that progression would make them the first Botswana club to reach the next stage of the Road to BAL.
CAMPAIGN BEGINNINGS
Their campaign began with a 77-72 victory over Zimbabwe’s Harare Kings. Dallan Coleman led Dolphins with 19 points, Peter Cheng Marial collected a team-high nine rebounds, while Makur Jongkuch controlled the offence with seven assists. Dolphins turned the contest with a dominant 26-9 third quarter.
They followed that with a second comeback victory, overcoming Malawi’s Bravehearts 78-74 after trailing 42-32 at halftime. Coleman again topped the scoring with 20 points, Marial dominated the glass with 12 rebounds, while Adrian Breitlauch supplied a team-best four assists.
Dolphins’ unbeaten start was brutally halted by hosts Munali Suns, who inflicted a 96-56 defeat. Coleman remained Dolphins’ leading scorer with 11 points, Breitlauch grabbed six rebounds, while Jongkuch led the side with two assists. Munali’s size proved decisive as the Zambians dominated the paint and rebounding battle.
IMPORTANT VICTORY
Rather than collapse after the 40-point setback, Dolphins responded with arguably their most important victory. They edged South Africa’s Soweto Panthers 63-56, lifting their record to 3-1 and putting qualification within reach. Coleman exploded for 30 points, Marial collected 11 rebounds, while Jongkuch produced seven assists.
Their final contest against Ferroviário da Beira ended in defeat, leaving Dolphins with their eventual 3-2 record but the groundwork laid through three victories proved sufficient for their historic advancement.
The achievement represents a significant leap from Dolphins’ previous Road to BAL campaign, where they failed to progress from the preliminary stage. It also places Botswana basketball closer than ever before to the continent’s premier club competition.
Dolphins will now head to Nairobi, Kenya, for the East Division Elite 16 scheduled for November 23-29. From there, the leading teams will battle for qualification to the 2027 Basketball Africa League.