Michael Mount Waldorf School to host Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA finals
The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA League finals are set to be hosted at Michael Mount Waldorf School in Bryanston, Johannesburg, on Sunday, 13 October.
They will conclude this year’s Jr. NBA/WNBA Leagues in South Africa, following the recent completion of the Royal Bafokeng Sports Jr. NBA/WNBA finals in Phokeng, Rustenburg, in September, and Jr. NBA/WNBA tournaments that were hosted in Cape Town and KwaZulu Natal in August.
The final of the Johannesburg regional league will feature the boys’ and girls’ champions from both the Eastern and Western Conferences.
The Eastern Conference incorporates the Ekurhuleni Municipality, which includes Benoni, Boksburg, Kempton Park, Germiston, and Brakpan. Sandton, Bryanston, Randburg, Rivonia, and Midrand make up the Western Conference.
Before the finals, an All-Star game for both boys and girls will take place. In all, 300 participants will be in action on Sunday.
The event will conclude with an awards ceremony at 13:00.
Fixtures
09:00 – All Star Game Girls – Western Conference vs Eastern Conference
09:55 – All Star Game Boys – Western Conference vs Eastern Conference
10:15 – Girls’ Final – Sandton Hornets vs Kagiso Basketball Club
11:15 – Boys’ Final – St Stithians College vs Soweto Basketball Academy
13:00 – Awards Ceremony
Royal Bafokeng Sports Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Champions crowned
The Royal Bafokeng Finals resumed last weekend after adverse weather conditions in Phokeng on 21 September necessitated the rescheduling of the u16 and u18 finals.
In the u16 girls’ final, Tshukudu defeated Molotlegi Primary School 19-12, while the boys’ final witnessed Matale decisively defeat Thethe 45-21.
The much-anticipated u18 girls’ final was a closely contested affair, with both Kitsong School and H.F Tlou Secondary competing fiercely until the final moments. In the end, Kitsong claimed a 38-30 victory to go back-to-back as champions.
Their standout player, Reatlegile Taukobong, who recently led Team South Africa at the u18 FIBA AfroBasket Tournament in Pretoria, was honored as the Queen of the Season MVP for the u18 girls’ division, with her exceptional skills and determination being recognised.
In the u18 boys’ final, Mmamape dominated Matale, racing to a 45-2 win. Onalena Nakedi, of Mmamape, was named the MVP for his remarkable dedication and talent.
Five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, along with scouts from across South Africa, including the coaching team from Walter Sisulu University, gave the event a big boost by attending it on Saturday, 21 September.
It was preceded by an awards ceremony on the Friday to honour the outstanding youth participants in the programme, and to also recognise their academic and national accomplishments, which included the recognition of coaches and the alumni of the Jr. NBA Africa.
During a live interview conducted in a question-and-answer format, Ron Harper shared insights about his early journey in the game. He underscored the importance of dedication and collaboration in the sport, and he recounted his experiences playing under the esteemed coach Phil Jackson, both with the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Harper emphasised the importance of enhancing the performance of teammates and acknowledged the transformation of basketball into a high-scoring, athletic sport. In closing, he conveyed a positive outlook for the future of basketball in Africa, suggesting that African players have the potential to emerge as elite talents in the NBA.
The awards ceremony also featured a series of videos, which highlighted the advancements of the Royal Bafokeng Jr. NBA and illustrated its journey from 2011 to today.
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