Spintex Knights reach Road to BAL Elite 16 unbeaten, set up JCA rematch

Ghanaian basketball club Spintex Knights have qualified for the Elite 16 stage of the Road to the Basketball Africa League (BAL) after winning all three of their group-stage matches in Praia, Cape Verde.

The Knights secured victories over Guinea’s Nabaya Sofas, Liberia’s NPA Pythons and Benin’s Energie BBC to maintain an unbeaten record and reach the Elite 16 for the third consecutive year.

Their latest achievement keeps alive their ambition of becoming the first Ghanaian club to qualify for the BAL, a continental competition established through a partnership between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

Spintex Knights began their campaign with a hard-fought 96–90 victory over Nabaya Sofas, recovering from a challenging contest before producing a decisive finish.

James Amotoe led the team with 29 points and 12 assists, while Khyree Temple contributed 27 points and 15 rebounds. Benjamin Ashitei also delivered 16 points and 11 rebounds.

The Knights took control during the closing stages, outscoring their opponents 10–2 in the final five minutes.

They also made three three-pointers without committing a turnover during that period to secure the victory.

Their second match against Liberia’s NPA Pythons proved more comfortable, with the Ghanaian side recording an 88–66 win.

Justin Uwitonze was instrumental in the victory, coming off the bench to score a game-high 24 points. He connected on eight of his 13 attempts from beyond the arc, while Benjamin Omari added 10 points.

The performance also marked a milestone for Spintex Knights, who recorded consecutive victories in the Road to BAL competition for the first time in their history.

They maintained their momentum in the final group-stage fixture, defeating Benin’s Energie BBC 92–71 to complete a clean sweep of their three matches.

However, the Knights’ qualification for the Elite 16 is only another step towards their ultimate objective of reaching the BAL.

The Ghanaian club will face Ivory Coast’s Jeunesse Club d’Abidjan (JCA) in the West Division semifinals, setting up a rematch of last year’s encounter.

In 2025, Spintex Knights lost 93–82 to JCA in the semifinals, bringing their campaign to an end and forcing them to postpone their hopes of reaching Africa’s premier club basketball competition.

Their return to the same stage presents another opportunity to advance and move closer to a historic qualification for Ghanaian basketball.