Lesotho champions Bokamoso set for Swaziland showpiece

Bokamoso South (left) beat Lichocha Shooting Rifles (right)
in the 2016/17 NBL finals...

Newly-crowned 2016/17 National Basketball League (NBL) champions Bokamoso South are set to represent Lesotho at the annual Swaziland Invitational International Basketball Tournament next month.

The regional basketball showpiece will take place from June 23 to 25 in Mbabane and Bokamoso will be joined by rivals KTA All-Stars as Lesotho’s two contestants in the men’s competition.

Bokamoso’s women’s team, Bokamoso North, which lost to Lichocha Shooting Rifles in the ladies’ NBL finals, has also been invited to the Swaziland tournament.

Bokamoso South’s voyage comes after they won a first national crown to cap a dominant season. Bokamoso won 32 of their 35 games in all competitions and completed a historic treble of trophies.

In addition to the NBL title, Bokamoso also won the Sprite Memorial Independence Tournament last October and the Sprite Summer Slam Charity Tournament in December.

They have been drawn in Group B alongside Imbumbe of Swaziland, Trojans from South Africa, Petromoc of Mozambique, Savio from Tanzania and Zimbabwe’s Harare City Hornets.

The youth based Bokamoso development programme was founded in 2012 and in less than five years it has taken Lesotho basketball by storm, becoming the main feeder for Lesotho’s national teams and the team to beat in the league.

Last year, Bokamoso South reached their first-ever NBL finals before losing to KTA All-Stars. This year they went one better when they beat Lichocha Shooting Rifles 3-1 in the NBL finals.

At the moment, the club has registered four teams – two girls and two boys – in the NBL and is it planning on registering a fifth team based on growth. Bokamoso almost completed a double of wins in both the men’s and women’s championships, but Bokamoso North agonisingly lost 3-2 to Lichocha in the NBL women’s finals.

Bokamoso’s women’s team has been drawn in Group B in Swaziland where they face South Africa’s Phoenix Flames, Mozambique’s Amigas Do Basquete and Zimbabwe’s Lynx BQ.

The Swaziland Invitational International Basketball Tournament is an opportunity for Bokamoso basketball club to measure its progress on the international stage.

Champions! Bokamoso South

Swaziland Invitational Tournament Groups:

Women

Group A

V n J (South Africa)

Lady Lioness (Tanzania)

Botswana Police (Botswana)

Lakers (Zimbabwe) 

Group B

Phoenix Flames (South Africa)

Amigas Do Basquete (Mozambique)

Bokamoso (Lesotho)

Lynx B.Q (Zimbabwe)

Group C

Dolphins (Botswana)

Vixens (Zimbabwe)

Jozi Nuggets (South Africa)

Clube Ferroviario de Maputo (Mozambique)

Group D

Greenstars (Zimbabwe)

Lady Dynamites (Malawi)

Raptors (South Africa)

Superladies (Swaziland)

Men

Group A

Jozi Nuggets (South Africa)

Hard Steels (Swaziland)

Hustlers (Zimbabwe)

FADM (Mozambique)

Munali Suns (Zambia)

KTA All-Stars (Lesotho)

Group B

Imbumbe (Swaziland)

Trojans (South Africa)

Petromoc (Mozambique)

Savio (Tanzania)

Bokamoso (Lesotho)

Harare City Hornets (Zimbabwe)

Group C

MBB (South Africa)

Superstars (Swaziland)

Dolphins (Botswana)

Foxes (Zimbabwe)

Young Stars (Tanzania)

Central Knights (Malawi)

Group D

Jazz (Swaziland)

Phoenix (South Africa)

Newcastle Avengers (South Africa)

Craques Da Boca (Mozambique)

Mikoko (Malawi)

JBC (Zimbabwe)

Bokamoso South crowned 2016/17 National Basketball League champions

Lesotho's new basketball champions... Bokamoso South

Bokamoso South have been crowned champions of the 2016/17 National Basketball League (NBL) season after a 83-76 overtime win over Lichocha Shooting Rifles in Game 4 of the NBL finals on Sunday.

Bokamoso’s dramatic win at a lively Lehakoe Club gave them an unassailable 3-1 lead in the best-of-five finals series.

It is the first national title for the club since they were founded in 2012 and it was sealed in thrilling fashion as Sunday’s game went beyond the normal regulation time.

It was the sides’ fourth meeting in two weeks after Bokamoso won 83-77 and 76-64 in Games 1 and 2 last weekend before Lichocha won Game 3 68-60 on Friday, and the tension was clear from onset.

The teams traded leads throughout the tight game until Bokamoso finally sealed a memorable 83-76 victory after nearly two hours of action.

With the win, Bokamoso completed a remarkable treble and confirmed themselves as the new force of Lesotho basketball.

Bokamoso had already won the Sprite Memorial Independence Tournament last October and the Sprite Summer Slam Charity Tournament in December. Bokamoso, who also finished first in the regular season league phase to claim the top seed for the NBL playoffs, won 32 of their 35 games in all competitions this season.

They will represent Lesotho at the annual Swaziland Invitational Basketball Tournament in June.

Bokamoso South on the verge of history

Bokamoso South (left) and Lichocha (right) meet in Game 3
of the NBL finals on Friday evening

Bokamoso South stand on the verge of etching their names into the history books when they face Lichocha Shooting Rifles in Game 3 of the National Basketball League (NBL) finals on Friday evening at the Lehakoe Club.

Bokamoso need just one more to clinch the best-of-five finals series after winning the first two games last weekend.

Bokamoso beat Lichocha 83-77 in Game 1 of the NBL finals last Friday and then followed that up with a 76-64 win in Game 2 last Saturday.

Bokamoso, who finished first in the regular season league phase, are bidding to complete a rare treble of trophies this season.

They won the Sprite Memorial Independence Tournament last October before winning the Sprite Summer Slam Charity Tournament in December

The odds say Bokamoso stand a good chance of completing adding a third title. Not only do they have a commanding 2-0 lead over Lichocha in the finals series, Bokamoso have been virtually unbeatable all season.

In total, across all competitions in the 2016/17 season, Bokamoso have played 33 games and have won 31 of them. They have only suffered defeat on two occasions.

Bokamoso South’s incredible 2016/17 season:

	P	W	L
NBL League Season	20	18	2
NBL Playoffs	4	4	0
Memorial Independence	4	4	0
Summer Slam	5	5	0
Total	33	31	1

Bokamoso Basketball Development Program league ends 2016

Bokamoso: developing future stars...

With the National Basketball League on hiatus until the New Year, the Bokamoso Basketball Development Program is concluding its year by hosting the first-ever edition of the Bokamoso Under-21 Basketball Development Tournament.

The countrywide youth league was launched last weekend. It intends to boost the standard of basketball in the country and give rural youth a platform to compete and showcase their talent.

The Bokamoso Under-21 Basketball Development Tournament has been divided into in five regions. The zones are North 1, North 2, South, Maseru 1 and Maseru 2 and games will played in Maputsoe, Butha-Buthe, Mohale’s Hoek and Maseru.

Bokamoso Basketball Development Program, of course, is the home of National Basketball League (NBL) log leaders Bokamoso South who have also won the Sprite Memorial Independence Tournament and Summer Slam Charity Tournament competitions in recent months.

Bokamoso North, meanwhile, lead the standings in the national women’s league.

According to Bokamoso programme coordinator Bokang Pharela, the Under-21 league is another of the club’s initiatives to produce quality basketball players around Lesotho.

He said they are striving for their development programme to reach every corner of the country, search for talent and revive rural and regional teams.

“Up to date we are working in eight districts of the country and we hope soon we will be all over the country,” Pharela said.

Pharela said Bokamoso want to grow the country’s pool of young players and increase participation in basketball.

“At the moment NBL teams only have one channel for players – high school clubs. This poses a threat to our sport because when the players reach a higher level of education they leave the sport and focus only on their education. So it is wise for us to sensitise them at an early stage that sport goes together with education and creates work at some point,” Pharela said.

Jonase Mokhakala, who is the Thaba-Tseka District Basketball Coordinator and head coach of Highlands Hawks Basketball Development Program, praised the Bokamoso Under-21 league. He said he hoped it would boost his team’s level as it will be their first time taking part in such a tournament.

“It is a good idea which also acts as way of removing the kids from the streets during these December holidays. It will keep them busy with basketball,” Mokhakala said.

Bokamoso South cap brilliant year with Summer Slam success

It was a successful 2016 Summer Slam Charity Tournament

Bokamoso South capped a brilliant year by beating KTA All-Stars 52-48 in an entertaining 2016 Sprite Summer Slam Charity Tournament final on Sunday at Lehakoe Club.

Bokamoso went through the tournament unbeaten to continue their outstanding 2016/17 campaign so far.

The Summer Slam title is their second trophy of the season after winning the Sprite Memorial Independence Tournament in October. Bokamoso also sit proudly atop the National Basketball League (NBL) where they have lost just once in ten games.

It means, in total, Bokamoso have won 18 games and suffered only one defeat in all competitions this season.

Bokamoso South in 2016/17

	P	W	L
NBL	10	9	1
Memorial Independence	4	4	0
Summer Slam	5	5	0
Total	19	18	1

Bokamoso began their run to the Summer Slam title by beating South Africa’s Phoenix Int 50-45 on Saturday. They then defeated another visiting side in Bloem Alumni 49-41 before a 20-0 walkover over local rivals Bashana Baheso in Saturday’s final game.

On Sunday was finals day and Bokamoso convincingly beat Lichocha Shooting Rifles 65-49 in the semis to advance to the final.

The final was expected to be a much tighter affair and it proved to be so. Ultimately, though, it was Bokamoso who once again got the better of KTA All-Stars, 52-48. Bokamoso’s Nako Mafube was named the MVP of the tournament.

A new force in Lesotho basketball... Bokamoso South

With another trophy in the cabinet, Bokamoso South also appear to be building a rivalry with KTA All-Stars.

Last season a previously unheralded Bokamoso side surprisingly reached the NBL finals before losing 3-0 to a more experienced KTA outfit. However, the youthful Bokamoso club has grown in confidence from that experience to become this season’s team to beat.

They relegated KTA to second place at the Memorial Independence Tournament and overcame Lesotho’s reigning kings once again this weekend.

In the women’s tournament, South Africa’s Phoenix Flames were crowned champions with Shooting Stars finishing as runners-up.

All in all, it was a successful tournament and a fruitful weekend for Lesotho’s teams.

Sprite Summer Slam Charity Tournament 2016

Results

Day 1

Men’s

Bokamoso South 50-45 Phoenix Int

KTA All-Stars 47-45 Mbabane Raptors

Bashana Baheso 19-30 Bloem Alumni

Goodfellas 29-55 Lichocha Shooting Rifles

Bokamoso South 49-41 Bloem Alumni

KTA All-Stars 43-38 Goodfellas

Phoenix Int 45-34 Bashana Baheso

Mbabane Raptors 57-48 Goodfellas

Bloem Alumni 18-26 Phoenix Int

Bokamoso South 20-0 Bashana Baheso

KTA All-Stars 61-39 Lichocha Shooting Rifles

Women’s

Bokamoso 04-48 Phoenix Flames

Bokamoso 14-46 Shooting Stars

Shooting Stars 25-32 Phoenix Flames

Lichocha 54-41 Mbabane Raptors

Day 2

Bokamoso 25-33 Shooting Stars

Phoenix Flames 70-6 Bokamoso

Shooting Stars 18-45 Phoenix Flames

Semi-finals:

Lichocha Shooting Rifles 49-65 Bokamoso South

KTA All-Stars 58-51 Phoenix

Final:

Bokamoso South 52-48 KTA All-Stars

Final Classifications

Men

1. Bokamoso South - Champions

2. KTA All-Stars - Runners-up

Ladies

1. Phoenix Flames - Champions

2. Shooting Stars - Runners-up

Most Valuable Players

1. Nako Mafube - Bokamoso South

2. Ellen - Phoenix Flames

Prizes

1. 1st Prize - Trophy and Medals

2. 2nd Prize - Medals

3. MVP - Trophy

Airtime Prizes

1. 1st Prize - M4000

2. 2nd Prize - M2000

3. MVP - M500

National Basketball League standings

		P	Pts.	W	L	PF	PA	PD	Last 10	Streak
1	Bokamoso South	10	19	9	1	647	401	246	9-1	W1
2	Bashana Baheso	10	18	8	2	544	373	171	8-2	W3
3	Lichocha	10	18	8	2	817	438	379	8-2	L1
4	NUL Rovers	10	16	6	4	456	421	35	6-4	W1
5	Leseli Tigers	10	16	6	4	516	492	24	6-4	W1
6	KTA All-Stars	10	16	6	4	544	473	71	6-4	L1
7	Khubestate	10	13	4	6	335	454	-119	4-6	L1
8	Bokamoso North	10	13	3	7	309	426	-117	3-7	W1
9	Lerotholi	10	13	3	7	394	570	-176	3-7	L3
10	LCE	10	12	2	8	329	565	-236	2-8	L1
11	Limkokwing	10	10	0	10	281	559	-278	0-10	L10