SPRINGBOKS STYMIED IN FINAL, FALL TO EGYPT 68-49
For over three periods your Springboks stood toe to toe with the best squad the continent has to offer, but in the end a 16-2 spurt over the final eight minutes sealed the RSA fate as Egypt claimed their second straight Afrobasket championship 68-49 in front of a feverish crowd of 6008 at Hurricanes Arena.
Montsho Mthebe and Fabian Pöll led all scorers with 22 and 17 respectively but a lack of support from elsewhere sabotaged the Springboks chances. " Egypt is the real deal, you can't win if you can't score and they shut us down when it counted most. I tip my hat to them." Coach Lambini said afterwards. "I told the guys I am extraordinary proud of them for the season we had. These guys put forth all they could, there is no shame in falling to a team like that. It gives us a blueprint of what to shoot for going ahead. It was a great run. For those moving on I wish for them only the best. For those returning I eagerly await the challenge the world's represent. What I hope is that this season can serve as a launching point within this community to help build a deeper program, we have some great managers I hope this inspires them to make the program better."