Pazi, DB Lioness shine as BDL playoff race heats up

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Dar es Salaam Basketball League (BDL) continued its thrilling 2025 season on Friday, with four highstakes matchups that shook up the playoff picture in both the men’s and women’s categories

In the women’s league, DB Lioness made a thunderous statement with a commanding 116–37 win over UDSM Queens.

The Lioness squad, already among the league’s elite, demonstrated their depth and dominance, solidifying its position as a serious title contender.

UDSM Queens, meanwhile, continue to struggle at the bottom of the table with only one win this season.

Tausi Royals also came out strong, edging past Reel Dream 55–49 in a tightly contested game.

The Royals are proving themselves as one of the most consistent teams in the league and this win helps them stay in firm contention among the top eight who will advanced to playoff.

Reel Dream, while competitive, remains stuck in the lower half of the table, needing a late-season surge to stay in the hunt.

Over in the men’s category, Pazi delivered a clinical performance, dismantling Kurasini Heat 81–39.

The victory keeps Pazi right on the heels of league leaders Dar City, as the race for top seeding intensifies. Kurasini Heat, on the other hand, remain entangled in the bottom ranks with their playoff hopes fading.

Perhaps the most exciting matchup of the day came when UDSM-Outsiders edged Vijana in a 55–53 thriller.

The game was a defensive grind from start to finish, but the Outsiders held their nerve in the final moments to steal a crucial win. With this result, the Outsiders continue to solidify their place among the top eight, while Vijana face mounting pressure to keep their postseason ambitions alive.

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The top sides, including Dar City, Pazi, and Stein Warriors in the men’s league, and JKT Stars, Jeshi Stars, and DB Lioness in the women’s, are pulling away, but the battle for playoff spots remains wide open