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2023–24 Cape Town Tigers season

Cape Town Tigers
2023–24 season
Head coachFlorsheim Ngwenya
Basketball National LeagueWithdrew
BALFourth Place
2024–25 →

The 2023–24 season of the Cape Town Tigers was the 4th season in the team's history.

Following their championship in the 2023 Basketball National League (BNL), the Tigers played in the Road to BAL. Under Florsheim Ngwenya as head coach, the Tigers went undefeated (5–0) in the qualifiers, and thus they will play in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) for a third straight season.

In the 2024 BAL season, the Tigers struggled in the Kalahari Conference, which was hosted in South Africa. In the playoffs, entering as the 8th seed,[1] they managed to oust favorites FUS Rabat in the quarterfinals.[2] After losing to Petro de Luanda in the semifinals and the Rivers Hoopers in the third place game, they finished in fourth place, the best result in Tigers' history.[3]

The Tigers were supposed to play in the 2024 BNL season in July 2024, however, they withdrew because of budgetary reasons.[4]

Players

BAL

Billy Preston returned to the Tigers after a one year absence from the team, but only played in the conference stage. For the playoffs, the Tigers added former player Dhieu Deing, center Brian Bridgeforth, and Abdou Ndoye. Storm Gilchrist was dropped from the roster before the playoffs.

The following roster includes all players who appeared in a BAL game for the Tigers between March and June 2024.

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Cape Town Tigers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Age
SG 1 South Sudan Deing, Dhieu (I) 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 23 – (2001-08-28)28 August 2001
PG 2 United States Diarra, Cartier (I) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 26 – (1998-02-06)6 February 1998
C 7 South Africa Mthembu, Somusa 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 32 – (1992-03-26)26 March 1992
G 10 South Africa Selepe, Lebesa (C) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 33 – (1991-03-13)13 March 1991
SG 11 South Africa Mofokeng, Lebo 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 32 – (1992-07-24)24 July 1992
SG 12 South Africa Whitbread, Dylan 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 30 – (1994-10-27)27 October 1994
PF 13 South Africa Gilchrist, Storm 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) 19 – (2005-04-06)6 April 2005
PF 14 South Africa Sibanyoni, Nkosinathi 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 26 – (1998-05-24)24 May 1998
SF 15 South Sudan Manyang, Ngor (I) 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 30 – (1993-12-13)13 December 1993
G 23 South Africa Cele, Samkelo 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 26 – (1997-12-28)28 December 1997
PF 24 United States Preston, Billy (I) 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 27 – (1997-10-26)26 October 1997
PF/C 28 United States Bridgeforth, Brian (I) 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) 30 – (1994-05-03)3 May 1994
C 34 Senegal Diop, Yakhya (E) 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) 17 – (2006-12-12)12 December 2006
C 45 Senegal Ndoye, Abdou (I) 2.16 m (7 ft 1 in) 35 – (1989-11-21)21 November 1989
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (I) Import player
  • (E): BAL Elevate program player
  • Injured Injured

Updated: 17 March 2024

Road to BAL roster

Used from October–December 2023.

The following roster was used during the Elite 16 of the Road to BAL.

Cape Town Tigers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Age
SF 3 South Africa Whitbread, Dylan 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 30 – (1994-10-27)27 October 1994
G 5 United States Ferguson, Terrance (I) 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 26 – (1998-05-17)17 May 1998
G 10 South Africa Selepe, Lebesa 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 33 – (1991-03-13)13 March 1991
G 11 South Africa Mofokeng, Lebohang 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 32 – (1992-07-24)24 July 1992
PF 14 South Africa Sibanyoni, Nkosinathi 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 26 – (1998-05-24)24 May 1998
SF 22 United States Larrier, Terry (I) 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 29 – (1995-08-15)15 August 1995
SF 25 South Africa Cele, Samkelo 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 26 – (1997-12-28)28 December 1997
C 41 South Africa Prinsloo, Pieter 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 32 – (1992-01-07)7 January 1992
SG 44 South Africa Bondonno, Luke 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 22 – (2002-09-21)21 September 2002
C 50 South Africa Gabriel, Christopher 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 35 – (1988-12-19)19 December 1988
Head coach

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (I) Import player
  • Injured Injured

Updated: 16 December 2023


Transactions

In

No. Pos. Nat. Name Age Moving from Type Ends Date Source
22 G/F United States Terry Larier 27 Free agent Free agent Undisclosed September 26, 2023 [5]
5 G United States Terrance Ferguson 25 GTK Gliwice Poland Free agent Undisclosed September 27, 2023 [6]
9 G Mali Cartier Diarra 25 Free agent Free agent Undisclosed October 6, 2023 [7]
G Australia Caleb Magua 21 Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Spiders Australia Free agent Undisclosed October 6, 2023 [8]
PF Senegal Lamine Diarra 25 Free agent Free agent Undisclosed October 7, 2023 [9]

Out

No. Pos. Nat. Name Age Moving to Type Date Source
1 G Central African Republic Evans Ganapamo 28 Bangui Sporting Club Central African Republic End of contract September 2023 [10]
41 F South Africa Pieter Prinsloo 31 Universidad de Concepción Chile End of contract December 2023 [11]

Competitions

Road to BAL

Elite 16

21 November 2023
1
Cape Town Tigers South Africa 76–61 Burundi Dynamo Ellis Park Arena, Johannesburg
20:00 Scoring by quarter: 17-14, 10-28, 20-8, 29-11
Pts: Larrier 25
Rebs: Sibanyoni 13
Asts: Larrier 5
Report Pts: Nijimbere 14
Rebs: Otobo 18
Asts: Morman 4
Referees: Tonton Banza Kalume (DRC), Haytham Ihaqaf (LBY), Diallo Mahamadou (MLI)
22 November 2023
2
Pazi Tanzania 87–95 South Africa Cape Town Tigers Ellis Park Arena, Johannesburg
20:00 Scoring by quarter: 25-11, 22-19, 13-31, 21-14
Report Pts: Sele 30 Referees: Mbaye Seye (SEN), Wael Mostafa (EGY), Francisco Tando (ANG)
23 November 2023
3
Cape Town Tigers South Africa 69–61 Senegal NBA Academy Africa Ellis Park Arena, Johannesburg
14:00 Scoring by quarter: 13-16, 15-14, 19-20, 22-11
Report Referees: Claudio Eiuba (ANG), Diallo Mahamadou (MLI), Francisco Tando (ANG)
Final round
25 November 2023
Semifinal
Cape Town Tigers South Africa 67–63 Madagascar COSPN Ellis Park Arena, Johannesburg
19:00 Scoring by quarter: 14–13, 22–12, 18–19, 13–19
Report Referees: Wael Mostafa (EGY), Youssouf Maiga (MLI), Haytham Ihaqaf (LBY)
26 November 2023
Final
Cape Town Tigers South Africa 70–68 Uganda City Oilers Ellis Park Arena, Johannesburg
14:00 Scoring by quarter: 22–22, 14–15, 24–15, 20–16
Report Referees: Diallo Mahamadou (MLI), Tonton Banza Kalume (DRC), Erick Otieno (KEN)

Basketball Africa League

Kalahari Conference

Pos Team Pld W L GF GA GD PCT Qualification
1 Morocco FUS Rabat 4 3 1 363 295 +68 .750 Advance to playoffs
2 Angola Petro de Luanda 4 2 2 360 340 +20 .500
3 South Africa Cape Town Tigers (H) 4 1 3 305 346 −41 .250
4 Burundi Dynamo (D) 0 0 0 0 0 0 Withdrew
Source: BAL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(D) Disqualified; (H) Hosts

The result of the first game day against Dynamo from Burundi was rescinded, as the team was disqualified after the first gameday.

9 March 2024 Cape Town Tigers South Africa 73–86 Burundi Dynamo SunBet Arena, Pretoria
3:00 PM (7:00 PM PST) Scoring by quarter: 15–21, 14–23, 24–22, 20–20
Pts: Cele 26
Rebs: Sibanyoni, Preston 7
Asts: Sibanyoni 5
Boxscore Pts: Otobo 21
Rebs: Otobo 13
Asts: Hobbs 8
Attendance: 5,749
Referees: Kevin Fahy, Wael Ibrahim Mostafa, Monicca Nassuuna
10 March 2024 Petro de Luanda Angola 100–88 South Africa Cape Town Tigers SunBet Arena, Pretoria
3:00 PM (7:00 PM PST) Scoring by quarter: 31–14, 16–28, 30–19, 23–27
Pts: Buiamba, Morais 17
Rebs: Morais, Moreira 8
Asts: Dundão 5
Boxscore Pts: Manyang 20
Rebs: Sibanyoni 9
Asts: Cele 4
Attendance: 3,576
Referees: Omar Bermudez, Haytham Ihaqaf, Mahamadou Diallo
12 March 2024 Cape Town Tigers South Africa 58–84 Morocco FUS Rabat SunBet Arena, Pretoria
3:00 PM (7:00 PM PST) Scoring by quarter: 18–24, 16–20, 10–27, 14–13
Pts: Cele 22
Rebs: Sibanyoni 8
Asts: Diarra 3
Boxscore Pts: Diarra 21
Rebs: Azouga, Najah 7
Asts: Jordan 7
Attendance: 1,050
Referees: Jason Alabanza, Erick Otieno, Dorothy Okatch
16 March 2024 Cape Town Tigers South Africa 84–78 Angola Petro de Luanda SunBet Arena, Pretoria
3:00 PM (7:00 PM PST) Scoring by quarter: 23–21, 24–20, 17–19, 20–18
Pts: Preston 20
Rebs: Preston 11
Asts: Diarra 9
Boxscore Pts: Moreira 20
Rebs: Moreira 10
Asts: Morais 7
Attendance: 5,734
Referees: Jason Alabanza, Wael Ibrahim Mostafa, Dorothy Okatch
17 March 2024 FUS Rabat Morocco 84–78 South Africa Cape Town Tigers SunBet Arena, Pretoria
3:00 PM (7:00 PM PST) Scoring by quarter: 15–33, 22–21, 22–25, 25–16
Pts: Jordan 19
Rebs: Diarra 11
Asts: Nouhi 5
Boxscore Pts: Cele 24
Rebs: Preston, Sibanyoni 7
Asts: Preston 5
Attendance: 5,827
Referees: Gerda Gatling, Erick Otieno, Didier Gaga

Playoffs

Seeding game
24 May 2024 Al Ahly Ly Libya 87–67 South Africa Cape Town Tigers BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda
5:00 PM Scoring by quarter: 21–25, 26–16, 25–17, 15–18
Pts: Golden 21
Rebs: Lual-Acuil 8
Asts: Golden 9
Livestats Pts: Deing 21
Rebs: Sibanyoni 12
Asts: Cele, Diarra 5
Attendance: 3,032
Referees: Pat O'Connell, Kingsley Ojeaburu, Annie Joyce Muchenu
Quarterfinals
26 May 2024 FUS Rabat Morocco 88–910(OT) South Africa Cape Town Tigers BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda
5:30 PM Scoring by quarter: 17–15, 24–29, 18–19, 24–20, Overtime: 5–8
Pts: Diarra 18
Rebs: Diarra 16
Asts: Jordan 7
Livestats Pts: Cele 30
Rebs: Sibanyoni 25
Asts: Diarra 8
Attendance: 6,279
Referees: Pat O'Connell, Aboolo Amr, Monicca Nassuunav
Semifinals
29 May 2024 Petro de Luanda Angola 96–860(OT) South Africa Cape Town Tigers BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda
8:00 PM Scoring by quarter: 15–16, 28–21, 23–18, 11–22, Overtime: 19–9
Pts: Faust 23
Rebs: Moreira 14
Asts: Dundão 7
Livestats Pts: Cele 19
Rebs: Sibanyoni 13
Asts: Diarra 6
Attendance: 6,072
Referees: Pat O'Connell, Kalume Tonton Banza, Annie Joyce Muchenu
Third place
31 May 2024 Rivers Hoopers Nigeria 80–57 South Africa Cape Town Tigers BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda
8:00 PM Scoring by quarter: 25–8, 18–21, 20–9, 17–19
Pts: Amayo 25
Rebs: Koko 11
Asts: Perry 8
Livestats Pts: Deing 17
Rebs: Sibanyoni 15
Asts: Manyang, Whitbread 2
Attendance: 4,379
Referees: Julian Scott, Wael Ibrahim Mostafa, Kalume Tonton Banza

Player statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

BAL

Cape Town Tigers statistics
Player GP MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Dylan Whitbread 8 14.9 .361 .304 1.000 1.6 0.8 0.3 0.0 4.4
Storm Gilchrist 3 13.6 .273 .000 .286 3.0 0.7 0.3 0.3 2.7
Nkosinathi Sibanyoni 8 30.8 .395 .111 .385 12.3 1.5 1.3 0.9 9.4
Lebesa Selepe 4 10.2 .143 .167 .000 1.3 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.8
Billy Preston 4 27.0 .460 .500 .769 6.3 3.0 1.0 0.3 15.8
Mouhamadou N'doye 4 26.5 .367 .000 .400 4.5 0.8 0.8 3.5 6.0
Somusa Mthembu 7 5.7 .333 .000 .000 2.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.6
Lebohang Mofokeng 6 6.9 .000 .000 .500 1.2 0.2 0.5 0.0 0.3
Ngor Manyang 8 26.5 .292 .259 .867 2.8 1.1 1.0 0.1 8.8
Yakhya Diop 5 3.7 .250 .000 .222 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.8
Cartier Diarra 7 35.0 .432 .290 .667 3.7 5.0 1.1 0.0 13.3
Dhieu Deing 4 33.0 .308 .265 .750 4.5 2.8 0.8 0.3 15.3
Samkelo Cele 7 33.8 .389 .268 .760 4.6 2.7 2.4 0.1 21.0
Brian Bridgeforth 4 15.8 .500 .000 .333 5.8 0.3 1.3 0.8 6.5


References

  1. ^ "Robert Golden's five three-pointers sink Cape Town in the opener of the 2024 BAL Playoffs". The BAL. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Cape Town Tigers stun top-seeded FUS Rabat in biggest achievement for South African basketball". The BAL. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Rivers Hoopers finish third at 2024 BAL". The BAL. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  4. ^ Basketball National League [@bnlsa] (14 June 2024). "We're thrilled to share the revised 2024 BNL fixture with you! Note that Cape Town Tigers are excluded, and EC Windbreakers have been relegated. Stay tuned for more updates and let the games begin!" – via Instagram.
  5. ^ @thecapetowntigers (26 September 2023). "BRINGING SOME EXTRA HEAT TO CAPE TOWN!" – via Instagram.
  6. ^ @thecapetowntigers (27 September 2023). "Welcome to Cape Town, Terrance Ferguson!" – via Instagram.
  7. ^ @thecapetowntigers (2 October 2023). "We would like to welcome @cartierdiarra2 to the family!" – via Instagram.
  8. ^ @thecapetowntigers (6 October 2023). "Welcome to the family @calebmagua" – via Instagram.
  9. ^ @thecapetowntigers (7 October 2023). "Welcome to the family @lamineseven" – via Instagram.
  10. ^ "Ganapamo ready to help elevate Bangui Sporting Club to the BAL". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  11. ^ Lehohla, Manyehlisa (8 December 2023). "Prinsloo's competitive flame is lit and ready to heat up in Chile". The Big Tip Off. Retrieved 16 December 2023.