Clubs were battling it out on various courts around the country to try and book a last minute ticket after Troopers won the league and secured a spot in the four-team championship.
At the end it was Police and Splinters who took the second and third spots respectively while a midweek fixture between Spartans and Flames will decide the remaining fourth spot. Even securing the league with two games to play was not enough for a win-hungry Troopers' side who continued their winning streak first beating NIIT 48-78 in their own backyard on Friday night. The champions were not in a mood to relent as they thumped bitter rivals Spartans 59-54 in a match played under blistering heat on Saturday afternoon. Police booked their place in the championships after clinching second spot after winning their weekend fixtures 57-45 against Falcons and 80-73 against Flames. Both games were played in Francistown. Splinters finished third, level on 30 points with Police who have a superior point difference. This means the two sides will face each other when the championship start at the UB courts on Friday evening. On the other hand, Troopers will have to wait until the decisive midweek fixture between Spartans and Flames to know their opponents. The winner of the match will have the remaining fourth spot of the championships and a replay between Troopers and Spartans is very likely if Spartans win the outstanding future. Meanwhile, in the women's league, there are still three fixtures to play in midweek to decide second position. The team that finishes second will play Police in the women's finals.
