Rwanda men’s basketball team lost to hosts Uganda 61-69 in the final match of the Zone V Qualifiersat MTN Arena in Kampala.

Moise Mutokambali’s side came second best to their opponents Uganda in attack and defensive. Norman Blick and Steven Omwony were outstanding for Uganda in the entire game.

The plethora of scoring guards led by Kenneth Gasana, Kami Kabange and Aristide Mugabe couldn’t do much to salvage Rwanda as dominant Uganda ruled the game.

Rwanda started on a poor note losing the first quarter 11-15 but managed to register a quick recovery and gained their rhythm to beat Uganda 30-28 by half time.

After half time, Mutokambali’s side lost their concentration as Uganda won the third quarter 53-45 and Rwanda’s return to close the gap in the fourth quarter was futile.

The loss means that Rwanda has lost twice and won twice to finish third in the regional tournament behind leaders and defending champions Egypt and Uganda who will represent the region at the Afrobasket finals and All Africa Games next year.

Rwanda will for the first time miss at the Fiba Afrobasket finals having participated at the previous four editions.

In other games played on Saturday in the men’s category, Egypt sealed their campaign unbeaten with a 91-68 win over Somalia while Kenya beat Uganda 71-83.

Kenya and Somalia finished fourth and fifth respectively.

In the women’s category, Uganda’s women side, The Gazelles sealed their place in the Fiba Afrobasket championships for the first time in the history of Ugandan basketball after beating Kenya 64-61.

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Angola lost to China in 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women

ISTANBUL (FIBA World Championship for Women) - Shao Ting indeed is the perfect representation of the transition phase in Chinese women's basketball.

Shao Ting had not figured in any of the many youth national teams that China developed and was almost a nobody until a sterling performance in her maiden WCBA season with the Beijing Great Wall paved the way for her inclusion in Maher's 'clean up' mission.

Shao Ting returned the faith reposed in her with a steady showing in China's preparations for the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women.

The 24-year-old forward further underlined her prowess and growth with a team-high 14 points as China beat Angola 65-39 on Sunday for their first win at Turkey 2014.

Watch game highlights

With 11.5 points per game, Shao is China's only player to average double-digit scoring.

"One year ago, if somebody told me I'd be here, I would have just laughed," said Shao Ting, whose only representations on any China team was at the 2011 and 2013 Universaides in Shenzen, China and Kazan, Russia respectively.

"I still get goose bumps thinking of that day when the coach called me," said Shao who averaged a healthy 15 points per game for Beijing Great Wall leading her team all the way to the WCBA Finals.

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Oilers & Pazi tipp off the AZAM BD League

 BASKETBALL Dar es Salaam (BD) have released the fixture of the 2014/15 regional basketball (RBA) league which will witness 18 teams battling it out for honours at the National Indoor Stadium.

BD Technical and Competitions Director Jimmy Nkongo said yesterday the competition, dubbed Azam Dar es Salaam Basketball League, will throw off tomorrow with two games to be played in the evening.

"There will be two matches on Friday evening and one of them will be aired live by Azam TV, who are the league's sponsors," he said. The day will see Oilers taking on Pazi in the men's opening game scheduled to start at 6.00pm.

It will be followed by an encounter between Chang'ombe Boys Club and Savio at 8.00pm. Nkongo said the women's league will commence on October 3 with Jeshi Stars meeting JKT and Vijana Queens facing Don Bosco Lioness On Saturday, four games will be held -- JKT vs Chui, Kurasini vs Tanzania Prisons, Jogoo ve Mgulani and DB Oysterbay vs Vijana, popularly known as the 'City Bulls'.

The RBA league involves 12 men's teams from the three Dar es Salaam districts -- Ilala, Kinondoni and Temeke - with each fielding four teams. They are Oilers, Pazi, ABC, Savio, JKT, Chui, Kurasini, Tanzania Prisons, Jogoo, Mgulani JKT, DB Oysterbay and Vijana.

Only six teams -- DB Lioness, Jeshi Stars, JKT Stars, Vijana Queens, Tanzania Prisons and Cargo Ladies - will contest the women's title.

The tournament will be televised live by Azam TV from the National Indoor Stadium every Friday, being the first time the RBA league is beamed live on television since its establishment.

The first round will end on October 14 with two games. JKT will lock horns with DB Lioness in the women's category while Oilers will face off Chui in the men's series.

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Hasheem Thabeet is a newcomer at The Pistons

Detroit Pistons strengthened their training camp roster with addition of 27-year old Tanzanian center Hasheem Thabeet (221-120kg-87, college: Connecticut). He was about to sign at Philadelphia 76ers. The last season Thabeet played at the Thunder. But in 25 games he recorded just 1.1ppg and 1.6rpg. He helped them to win the Northwest Division title.
In 2009 Memphis Grizzlies selected him as second overall pick in NBA draft. The former University of Connecticut staris in his sixth season in pro basketball.
Among other achievements he received USBasket.com All-NCAA D1 2nd Team award and Big East Co-Player of the Year award back in 2009 at his college time.
Thabeet has played previously professionally in other NBA teams (Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers) and D-League (Santa Cruz Warriors and Rio Grande Valley Vipers).
The scouts decsribe him following way: (by Kevin Duffy for NBADraft.net in 2009)
Has a good nose for the ball on the boards Tremendous lateral quickness for a player his size. Can guard smaller players out to the 3-point line Is a bit stronger than he appears.
He puts the ball on the floor way too often instead of going straight up without dribbling. This leads to turnovers and more difficult shots.

By Eurobasket Data Center

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