Dar City Basketball Club shocked the Patriots with a 78-64 victory, finishing the Group B stage with a 1-1 record and advancing to the Genocide Memorial Tournament (GMT) 2025 semifinals.
After an opening-day loss to UGB, Dar City bounced back on April 25, stunning the Kigali giants and sending them home early.
The Tanzanian side entered the tournament not only to compete but also to stand in solidarity with Rwanda’s basketball community, commemorating the players, coaches, administrators, and fans lost during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Beyond participation, Dar City impressed with their organization and high-level play, proving that Tanzanian basketball is quickly rising onto the regional stage.
Despite falling short in their first match, Mohamed Bakari Mbwana’s team showcased quality basketball that won over Kigali fans. The support and morale boost from Game 1 carried them into a confident performance against the Patriots in Game 2.
Dar City raced to a 25-12 lead after the first quarter and maintained a 40-31 advantage at halftime.
Fueled by long-range shooting from Deng Dhieu and Obadiah Noel, the Dar-es-Salaam-based club dominated the third quarter, stretching their lead to 62-47 entering the final period. They kept Patriots at bay throughout the fourth, closing out the game with a commanding 78-64 win.
Obadiah Noel led all scorers with 22 points on 8-22 shooting, including 3-5 from three-point range. The former Westchester Knicks (NBA G-League) player also added 5 rebounds and 2 assists in 25 minutes of action.
Deng Dhieu contributed 21 points, while Patriots’ Cole Elliot Lamar was limited to 14 points as his team struggled to display their usual fighting spirit.
With this win, Dar City secured second place in Group B (1-1) behind UGB, while the Patriots finished last and suffered an early exit that stunned Kigali fans.
Dar City will now face APR in the semifinals on Saturday, April 26, at 9 PM at Petit Stade. The other semifinal will feature UGB taking on KPA at 6:30 PM.
In the women’s category, Uganda’s JKL Lady Dolphins will face Kenya’s KPA, followed by a clash between APR WBBC and REG WBBC, renewing their rivalry.
