VIDEOS: Gezira, Berco Stars crowned FIBA Zone V champions

Egyptian side Gezira (men) and Burundi’s Berco Stars (women) were crowned the 2015 champions of FIBA Africa Zone Five Club Championships on Saturday evening at Petit Stade in Remera.

Monday, October 12, 2015
Egyptian side Gezira celebrate after winning the FIBA Zone V Club Championships on Saturday evening at Petit Stade outside Amahoro stadium in Remera. (S. Ngendahimana)

Saturday

Final

Men

Gezira (Egy) 75-73 City Oilers (Uga)

Women

Berco Stars (Bur) 63-52 KCCA (Uga)

Egyptian side Gezira (men) and Burundi’s Berco Stars (women) were crowned the 2015 champions of FIBA Africa Zone Five Club Championships on Saturday evening at Petit Stade in Remera.

Debutants Gezira overcame Uganda’s City Oilers 75-73 to become the first Egyptian club to win the tournament while Berco Stars also defeated Uganda’s Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) 63-52 to become the first Burundian side to clinch the regional title.

Video: FIBA Zone 5 Men Finale: Egypt's club beats Uganda's (75-73). Source: The New Times/YouTube

Gezira won the first, third and fourth quarters 17-14, 24-17, 22-17, while City Oiler claimed the second quarter 25-12. Gezira’s Amr Abdelhalim scored the game high 26 points while Rwanda international Kami Kabange led City Oilers with 23 points.

In the women’s category, forward Sifa Florence Kalume scored 25 points to lead Berco Stars to their maiden regional crown. The Burundians claimed the first two quarters 18-9, 17-7 but KCCA, led by Jackie Chemutai (17 points), bounced back to take the final two 21-17 and 15-11.

Sifa Kalume scored 25 points to lead Berco Stars to their maiden regional crown. (Sam Ngendahimana)

In third place playoff, the 2014 winners USIU of Kenya beat Rwanda’s debutants Ubumwe 92-60 to take the bronze medal, while in the men’s category 2012 champions Espoir (Rwanda) defeated Tiger Head Power (Uganda) 82-77.

The men’s champions Gezira as well as women’s top two teams; Berco Stars and KCCA earned tickets to play at the forthcoming FIBA Africa Club Championships to be staged in Angola later this year.

Video: FIBA Zone 5 Women Finale: Burundi's club beats Uganda's (63-52). Source: The New Times/YouTube

Running from October 4 to 10 at Amahoro stadium, the 21st FIBA Africa Zone Five Club Championships attracted a total of 16 teams (ten men and six women) from seven countries namely; Egypt, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Kenya and hosts Rwanda.

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