03 Nov 2026

Dolphins dream of qualifying for the East Division Elite 16 stage of the 2027 Basketball Africa League (BAL) season is in limbo.The setback follows 96-56 defeat to Munali Suns on Sunday at the ongoing FIBA Africa Champions Clubs Road to BAL 2026 Division East qualifiers in Lusaka, Zambia.

Botswana Basketball League reigning champions, Dolphins tipped off their qualification campaign on a high with convincing victory on their first two opening games of the tournament against Zimbabwe’s Harare Kings and Malawi’s Bravehearts Basketball clubs respectively.

The Dolphins opened their qualification account with a 77-72 victory against the Kings at the NASDEC Sports Complex. 

After trailing in the first half, the Dolphins turned the game around with a dominant 26-9 third-quarter performance with Dallan Coleman and Kesaobaka Ndawanyana combining for 36 points.

Coleman led with 19 points, eight rebounds, and four assists while Ndawanyana added 17 points and five rebounds and Peter Cheng Marial contributed 12 points and nine rebounds to secure maiden championship victory for the Dolphins.

Following their opening win against the Kings, the Dolphins went on to claim their second consecutive victory by defeating Malawi’s Bravehearts 78–74.

The Dolphins opened the game with a bright 6-0 spark after Adrian Breitlauch and Jongkuch connected on consecutive three-pointers. 

However, the Bravehearts responded with six unanswered points (6-6) before both teams traded baskets to tie again at 16-16 in the opening quarter of the game.The Dolphins fought back after trailing 42–32 at half-time surging to take the game over in the third quarter.

Coleman led the comeback with 20 points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal for the Dolphins, while South Sudanese centre, Makur Jongkuch added 17 points, six rebounds, two steals, one assist and one block.

However, Dolphins chances of qualifying to the next round nonetheless hangs in balance after suffering a defeat to the Suns in a dominant 40-point blowout in their third game of tournament.

With a bigger size in their roaster Munali Suns outscored the Dolphins 60-24 in the paint and won the rebounding battle 59-31.Despite suffering defeat in their last game, the journey is not over for the local lads with two games remaining against South Africa’s Soweto Panthers and Mozambique’s Ferroviario da Beira.

Dolphins captain Kesaobaka Ndawanyana revealed in an interview that the team was determined to bounce back strongly in the remaining two games. 

The top two teams from the group phase will advance directly to the East Division Elite 16 stage, scheduled for November 23–29, where the ultimate qualifying spots for the 2027 Basketball Africa League season will be decided. ENDS