JOHANNESBURG (South Africa) - The Johannesburg Giants have won their second consecutive title in the Basketball South Africa National Clubs Championship, finishing the tournament on Sunday, October 11, with a perfect 4-0 record. They secured the championship by defeating the 2024 national club champions, MBB, with a decisive score of 99-57 in their final round-robin game at the Mandeville Complex.

Read More

With this victory, the Giants have earned a spot in the 2027 FIBA Road to BAL qualifiers. In the match against MBB, four Giants players scored in double figures. Dylan Whitbread led the team with 20 points, shooting 4 out of 6 from the three-point line, while Joshua Ozabor contributed 19 points with 4 out of 7 from beyond the arc. Championship MVP Aviwe Mahlong scored 15 points, and Yanick Kasilembo added 12 points to the Giants' total.

Whitbread expressed satisfaction with both his team's performance and his own play, especially after limited minutes in previous games. "I had not played that much in the previous games... I had to do some self-reflection and look at what the coach is looking for. I really tried to come in with more focus, be more vocal as a leader, and play my game," he said, noting his four assists along with his scoring.

Looking ahead, Whitbread is eager for the opportunity to return to the Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualifying tournament, recalling his previous experience. He stated, "I know this is a step in where we want to go... I haven't been to the BAL with the Joburg Giants, but I have been there with the Cape Town Tigers, and I know what it takes to compete at that level."

In this year's championship, the Giants overcame the Jozi Nuggets 61-60 in their opening game, followed by a commanding 95-49 victory over Soweto Basketball Academy, who were making their national championship debut. They faced a tougher challenge against DUEP, managing a narrow 63-59 win.

Additionally, the tournament's All-Star five included players Dennis Mdluli from Soweto Basketball Academy, Lebesa Selepe from MBB, Zet Mutongoza from Jozi Nuggets, Pieter Prinsloo from DUEP, and Aviwe Mahlong from the Giants, who was named MVP.