Top scorers shine as Taifa Cup heads into final stretch

DODOMA: AS the Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF) Taifa Cup Championship enters its decisive quarterfinal stage in Dodoma, individual players have continued to stamp their authority with outstanding performances in both the men and women’s competitions.

Songwe’s Tyrone Edward has emerged as the leading scorer in the men’s category after amassing 143 points, opening a commanding lead over Unguja’s Jonas Mushi, who has scored 106 points, while Kigoma’s Hussein Juma sits third with 104 points.

Unguja has also dominated the playmaking charts, with Ally Abdallah leading the assists table with 38, ahead of Mwanza’s Zacharia Vitalis on 33.

Pwani’s Stanley Mtunguja is third with 26, while Kigoma’s Emmanuel Anthony and Unguja’s Sisco Ngaiza have registered 24 and 20 assists respectively.

Defensively, Anthony has proved instrumental for Kigoma, topping the steals chart with 21, narrowly ahead of Songwe’s Amin Mkosa on 20, while Mara’s Samson Mabula is third with 19.

Anthony has also dominated the rebounds category, collecting 86 rebounds, ahead of Unguja duo Fotius Ngaiza (68) and Sisco Ngaiza (62).

Kilimanjaro’s Jones Lubaziwa has also grabbed 62 rebounds. In shot blocking, Fotius Ngaiza leads with 19 blocks, followed by Pwani’s Adam Kassim (13) and Dar es Salaam’s Jordan Manang (12) at third.

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In the women’s category, Jesca Ngisaise of Dodoma has been the tournament’s most prolific scorer with 113 points, comfortably ahead of Manyara’s Faidha Ismail on 87 and Pwani’s Anamary Cyprian has netted 83 points at third.

Dodoma has also produced the leading playmaker through Jesca Lenga, who tops the assists standings with 19, followed by teammate Irene Gerwin on 17 while Manyara’s Nyanura Masinde has recorded 16 assists to sit third.

Manyara’s Merina Remy heads the steals category with 25, ahead of teammate Nyanjura Masinde on 23.

Arusha duo Rehema Hemed (20) and Upendo Isaya (18) follow, while Arusha has dominated the rebounding statistics through Elizabeth Singoi, who leads with 49, followed by Dar es Salaam’s Amina Kaswa (46) and Manyara’s Faidha Ismail (43).

Meanwhile, the women’s blocks category is jointly led by Dar es Salaam pair Irene Kapambala and Sophia Donald, who have recorded five blocks each, while Upendo Isaya, Anamary Cyprian and Manyara’s Anna Cassim have registered three blocks apiece.