POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
(Courtesy of Malawi Nation)
Mzuzu's Dynamites emerged tops as the fight for places in the national finals of the K2.5 million Sprite basketball tournament reached its climax the Northern Region Basketball Zone (Nozobal) on Sunday.
Dynamites easily overcame competition from the other two contestants Northern Pistons and Mzuzu University Lakers to cart home a cool K15,000. They beat the Pistons 81-58.
Pistons still managed to grab second spot after seeing off the Lakerz 86-36 and collected K10,000 while Mzuni went home with K5,000.
Moyale and Ekwendeni failed to turn up for the tournament due to different reasons.
“We have been informed that the Moyale guys were tied up while Ekwendeni didn't have transport but nevertheless, the games were very competitive,” said Nozobal chair Chimwemwe Mhone.
This means Dynamites and Pistons will represent the North in the finals to be held at Katoto court from September 30.
According to Mhone, renovations of the court will start Wednesday.
In the Southern Zone Basketball Zone (Sozobal), eight teams have qualified for the regional finals.
The eight are Bricks, Falcons, Magang'a, Cobbe, Crazy Warriors, Poly Bobcats, Chanco and Spiders.
The first five were on bye being last season's top teams while Poly Bobcats, Chanco and Spiders qualified after beating College of Medicine, Poly Panthers and Hoofs respectively at the weekend.
Three teams are expected to book themselves tickets to the national finals at the regional finals, which will be staged at the Blantyre Youth Centre this weekend.
Sozobal general secretary Hope Chisamanga said preparations for the regional finals are going on well.
“All is set and the launching ceremony also gave our players the determination to play,” he said.
The champions for this year's event are expected to go away with K200,000 while runners-up will get K120,000. The third-placed team will get K80,000.
The tournament started with a developmental phase which saw all the country's three regions producing champions.
In the South, Likangala Secondary School emerged victors and got K30,000 like other regional champions.
