Team BCG to represent Kenya at the FIBA 3x3 Singapore Lion City Challenger

BCG's Brans Nzioka in action against Basket Bros during the BingwaFest national Finals at Kinoru Stadium, Meru, in April/HANDOUT 

Back-to-back BingwaFest champions Team BCG will represent Kenya at the FIBA 3x3 Singapore Lion City Challenger after emerging winners at the Nairobi Lite Quest held at Umoja Basketball Court last weekend.

The June 26–28 tournament at the Singapore Sports Hub will bring together some of the world’s top-ranked 3x3 basketball teams, with valuable FIBA ranking points also up for grabs.

BCG sealed qualification after defeating Team Simba 21-14 in the final to earn Kenya’s ticket to the prestigious international event.

The team, made up of Davies Siaji, Alex Nzuki, Patrick Otango and Brans Nzioka, produced a dominant run throughout the qualifier. They opened with a 21-7 victory over Uknighted Legends before edging Equity Dumas 18-17 in the group stages. In the knockout rounds, they beat Ulinzi Vipers 22-13 in the quarterfinals and thrashed Chipukizi 22-13 in the semi-finals to set up the decisive clash against Simba.

Team captain Davies Siaji said qualifying for the Singapore Challenger marks a major step for the side as they seek to test themselves against elite global opposition while raising Kenya’s profile on the international 3x3 stage.

“We are excited about the opportunity to represent Kenya in Singapore. Playing against top international teams will be a huge learning experience for us and we want to show that Kenyan teams can compete at that level,” said Siaji.

“We have been working hard as a unit and this qualification is proof that the effort is paying off. Our focus now is on preparing well and making a strong impression in Singapore.”

Their qualification also boosts Kenya’s standing in the FIBA 3x3 rankings, with the country currently ranked third in Africa and 36th globally in the combined federation rankings.

Siaji credited the team’s consistency and exposure to high-level competition through Betika BingwaFest for helping sharpen their game ahead of the Nairobi Lite Quest.

“We’ve built momentum through BingwaFest because the competition there is always intense. It has helped us grow as players and as a team because every match pushes you to improve,” he said.

Betika BingwaFest Championship Director Cynthia Mumbo described BCG’s qualification as a reflection of the growing impact of the tournament in developing talent and creating opportunities for athletes to compete beyond the local scene.

“Seeing BCG qualify for an international competition is a proud moment for us because it shows the importance of giving players a platform to compete consistently,” said Mumbo.

“BingwaFest is helping expose talent and contributing to the growth of Kenyan basketball by preparing teams for bigger stages.”

BCG are the reigning Betika BingwaFest national champions after successfully defending their title with a 20-14 victory over Basket Bros in the men’s final at Kinoru Stadium in Meru last month.