All eyes on Vijana Queens as WBLA enters quarterfinals
ZANZIBAR: TANZANIA’s Vijana Queens and Fox Divas faced mixed results at the Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) 2024 Zone Five Qualifiers as the tournament progresses to the quarterfinals.
Vijana Queens advanced to today’s quarter-final, while their compatriots, Fox Divas, were eliminated early.
Hosted in Zanzibar for the first time, the tournament began on October 27 and has seen significant growth, featuring 11 teams competing for a spot in the WBLA 2024 finals that will conclude on November 2.
ALSO READ: Vijana, Fox Divas in tough WBLA 2024 Zone Five
The teams were divided into three groups (A, B and C), with Group A wrapping up its matches yesterday evening. Vijana Queens competed in Group A alongside Egypt’s Al Ahly, Young Sisters from Burundi and Uganda’s JKL Lady Dolphins.
The Tanzanian champions finished the group stage with 4 points, placing third behind Al Ahly and JKL Lady Dolphins, both of whom won their matches on Tuesday evening to secure the top two spots.
Vijana Queens kicked off their campaign with a hard fought 91-77 victory over Burundi’s Young Sisters, who finished at the bottom of the group without a win.
Despite losses to Al Ahly and JKL Lady Dolphins, Vijana Queens advanced, as the top three teams from Groups A and C progressed, while Group C, consisting of three teams, competed for two spots.
In Group B, Rwanda’s APR Women BBC and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) advanced, collecting 4 and 3 points respectively, while Hawassa City finished last with 2 points.
Group C was led by Rwanda Energy Group (REG) Women’s BBC with 6 points, followed by Kenya Equity Bank Hawks with 5 points and Gladiators of Burundi with 4 points, leaving Fox Divas at the bottom with 3 points.
With the group stage concluded, all eyes are now on Vijana Queens as they prepare for the quarterfinals.
The basketball community hopes they will uphold the nation’s honour after the JKT team struggled in the men’s Basketball Africa League (BAL) Qualifiers earlier mid this month.
