No party time as Namuwongo Blazers shift focus to BAL

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BAL Elite 16 East Division (Nairobi, November 18-23)

Group A: Namuwongo (UGA), Nairobi, Joburg & TBD

Group B: Bravehearts, Matero, Beira & Dar (TZ)

Namuwongo Blazers' long-awaited National Basketball League (NBL) title is here. But celebrations must be conducted alongside preparations for the looming Basketball Africa League (BAL) Elite 16 Qualifiers.

The final phase of qualification for Africa's Premier basketball tournament promises the sternest examination yet of the newly minted Ugandan champions, who dethroned the City Oilers last week, winning the NBL Finals 4-2.

Namuwongo will face two of the tournament favourites in hosts Nairobi City Thunder and Johannesburg Giants in Group A, with the top two making the semis.

The eight-team tournament will start with a group phase, followed by the semis and finals. The top three will qualify for BAL. The Blazers have resumed training this week, after taking off time to celebrate their first NBL title.

The Blazers recovered from 2-0 in the best-of-seven series to hand the Oilers their first series loss in the NBL. But even as jubilations proceeded, plans for the BAL were already ongoing.

"After a few days, we will regroup," said Namuwongo CEO Daniel Obol in the immediate aftermath of the Blazers' NBL triumph.

"Our other players will join up with the team, and we will get ready for the tournament."

Namuwongo added John Murray, Joseph Obasa and Bereal Jaycson Ray to the squad for the Road to BAL qualification phase last month, where they finished second behind Dar City.

Suffice it to say, the NBL champions will need to elevate their performances way beyond the level they displayed in Dar es Salaam to fulfil their dream of reaching the BAL.

Clubs like Dar have chosen to shore their ranks with new additions ahead of the Elite 16, and there is sense in the Blazers considering a similar direction.