DAR ES SALAAM: BASKETBALL Dar es Salaam League (BDL) men’s defending champion Dar City continues their winning form after dealing Savio with their first league defeat in the ongoing league.
At the match that was held at the Don Bosco (DB) Oysterbay court in Dar es Salaam over the weekend, Dar City recorded a 78-65 victory to register a third win in the four played matches so far.
It was the third win after the impressive 61-44 and 89-48 victory against Mchenga and Pazi respectively in the league that started early this month.
The win lifted them to second place in the league table with 7 points in the 16 men’s showdown field.
It is a point behind early surprise leaders University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) Outsiders who had 8 points from four played games. Outsiders are the only team yet to concede a match.
The reigning champions Dar City’s title defence started on a dismal note after enduring a 66-77 defeat to JKT in their league opener.
That was sweet revenge for JKT who was beaten in Game 4, with a 69-63 loss and allowed Dar City to clinch their first BDL title in 2023 with 3-1 games in the best of five playoff finals.
In another weekend fixture, Jogoo lost 64-78 to Vijana City Bulls in another thrilling match.
Pazi was among the smiling teams after a 69-50 victory over Mgulani JKT, Srelio Kampala International University Tanzania (KIUT) 5251 in a game in which both teams went toe to toe.
Other men’s battles saw the Outsiders enjoy a 48-29 victory against DB Oratory.
Vijana City Bulls, Saviao, and JKT have 7 points each also from four played games to stay at third, fourth, and fifth positions respectively, separated by goal differences in the interesting and exciting campaign.
In the women’s category, Kurasin Divas defeated UDSM Queens 25-21, while Mgulani Stars beat Kigamboni Queens 58-9, Mchenga Queens lost 39-18 to Polisi Stars, and Tausi Royals beat DB Lioness 53-50.
JKT Stars is at the helm of the women’s category with 9 points from five played games, Mgulani Stars who played six matches are second with 9 points, and Polisi Stars with 7 points from four matches is third. DB Lioness collected six points from four played matches at 4th place while Mchenga Queens is 5th with 5points from three played matches.
Women’s defending champions Vijana Queens who played two matches with 4 points settled at 9th in the record field of 16 teams.