• BASKETBALL

• Frank Rotich 4 months ago

Team BCG credits BingwaFest for FIBA 3x3 Singapore qualification

Kenya’s rising 3x3 basketball side Team BCG has credited BingwaFest for helping them qualify for the prestigious FIBA 3x3 Singapore Lion City Challenger set for June this year.

The back-to-back BingwaFest national champions booked Kenya’s ticket to Singapore after a dominant display at the Nairobi Lite Quest tournament held at Umoja Basketball Court.

Team BCG defeated Team Simba 21-14 in the final to seal their historic qualification for the international event scheduled for June 26 to 28 at the Singapore Sports Hub.

Team captain Davies Siaji Siaji said regular participation at BingwaFest competitions helped sharpen the squad and prepared them for high-pressure matches.

Siaji noted that facing strong opponents and officiating from top federation referees gave the team the experience needed to perform well during the qualifiers. He added that the players are now fully focused on preparing for the challenge ahead as they get ready to represent Kenya on the global stage.

The team, made up of Davies Siaji, Alex Nzuki, Patrick Otango, and Brans Nzioka, enjoyed an impressive unbeaten run during the tournament. They opened their campaign with a convincing 21-7 victory over Uknighted Legends before overcoming Nairobi City Thunder 17-11. BCG later edged Equity Dumas 18-17 in a tightly contested group match.

In the knockout stages, they defeated Ulinzi Vipers 22-13 in the quarterfinals before hammering Chipukizi 22-13 in the semifinals to book a place in the final.

Apart from qualifying for the Singapore Challenger, the victory also earned the players valuable FIBA ranking points, boosting Kenya’s position in the global 3x3 basketball rankings. Kenya is currently ranked third in Africa and 36th in the world in the combined FIBA federation rankings.

BingwaFest Championship Director Cynthia Mumbo described the qualification as proof that the tournament is helping nurture and expose local talent to international opportunities.

Mumbo said BingwaFest continues to play a major role in transforming Kenyan sport by giving athletes a platform to compete, grow, and gain international recognition. She added that Team BCG’s success demonstrates the quality of talent available in the country and the importance of investing in grassroots competitions.

Last month, Team BCG successfully defended their BingwaFest title after beating Basket Bros 20-14 in the men’s final at Kinoru Stadium in Meru.