Spintex Knights reach Road to BAL Elite 16 unbeaten, set up JCA rematch

Ghanaian basketball team Spintex Knights have advanced to the Elite 16 phase of the Road to the Basketball Africa League (BAL) after claiming three consecutive victories in their group stage matches in Praia, Cape Verde. Their unbeaten run, now in its third year, keeps alive their ambition to become the first Ghanaian club to secure a spot in the BAL, a continental competition established in collaboration with the NBA and FIBA.

Spintex Knights kicked off their campaign with a hard-fought 96-90 win over Guinea's Nabaya Sofas, overcoming a tough contest to seal the victory with a decisive finish. James Amotoe led the charge with 29 points and 12 assists, while Khyree Temple contributed 27 points and 15 rebounds, and Benjamin Ashitei added 16 points and 11 rebounds. The Knights took charge in the closing minutes, outscoring their opponents 10-2 and making three three-pointers without committing any turnovers.

Their second matchup against Liberia's NPA Pythons was a more comfortable 88-66 win, with Justin Uwitonze stepping up in the second half to score a team-high 24 points, including eight three-pointers. Benjamin Omari added 10 points to the team total. This performance marked the first time in Spintex Knights' history that they achieved consecutive victories in the Road to BAL competition.

Their latest triumph, a 92-71 defeat of Benin's Energie BBC, completed a flawless run through their three group stage matches, bringing them to the Elite 16 for the third consecutive year. However, their qualification for the Elite 16 is just another step towards their ultimate goal of reaching the BAL. The Ghanaian club will face Ivory Coast's Jeunesse Club d’Abidjan (JCA) in the West Division semifinals, setting up a rematch of last year's encounter, where Spintex Knights lost 93-82.

This new opportunity presents another chance for the team to advance and move closer to a historic qualification for Ghanaian basketball.