Go! Reporter
The road to Manila runs straight through Johannesburg, where South Africa’s finest streetball talent clashed at the Klipspruit Sports Centre in Soweto for the national titles of the Red Bull Half Court tournament.
Following three intense city qualifiers across the country, 10 men’s and eight women’s teams—including selected wildcard entries—earned their places at the high-stakes National Final. At stake for the eventual male and female champions are two coveted tickets to represent South Africa at the Red Bull Half Court World Final in Manila, Philippines, on December 5, 2026.
The National Final delivered a full-day spectacle of fast-paced 3×3 basketball, combining elite athletic skill with local urban culture. Spectators were treated to an action-packed programme featuring high-energy music, a public dunk contest, a 1v1 side tournament, and the “Red Bull Run The Racks” shooting challenge hosted alongside world-renowned shooting coach Lethal Shooter. South African amapiano sensation Kamo Mphela also took to the court area to deliver a live performance.
On the court, the high-octane 3×3 format left zero room for error. Played on a half-court setup, each match ran for 10 minutes or until the first team reached 21 points. Adding to the tactical intensity was the tournament’s signature “Own the Court” bonus—a rule that awards a advancement spot to the highest-scoring team in each group across all matches, regardless of win-loss records.
Defending their crown in the men’s division were Johannesburg’s MBB Blue Soldiers, captained by Lebesa Selepe. The inaugural South African champions, who represented the country at last year’s World Final in Dubai, returned to face fierce opposition from nine contending squads.
The men’s field featured top regional qualifiers, including:
- Bucket Boys (Durban), captained by Prince Bambi
- Cape Town New Masters (Cape Town), captained by Vincent Ntunja
- Cape Town Thunder (Cape Town), captained by Stewart Morgan
- Elite Pace Academy (Johannesburg), captained by Oteng Khati
- Fantastic 4 (Durban), captained by Lehlohonolo Mhlongo
- LXG (Johannesburg), captained by Prince Dube
- Seal Team 6 (Johannesburg), captained by Lesedi Letlotlo Mputle
- Spartans (Johannesburg), captained by Lebogang David Bassie
- Tala Hady (Johannesburg), captained by Thabo Bandile Gumede
Meanwhile, a brand-new champion was guaranteed in the women’s division following the absence of defending titleholders, Hoop Hustlers. Five top-tier women’s squads stepped up to battle for the vacant crown and the flight to Manila:
- Blue Flames (Cape Town), captained by Alika Meyerkort
- Buckets & Bruises (Durban), captained by Fatimah Chiliza
- Ghiv Us (Johannesburg), captained by Ipeleng Nyatlo
- Size Nenye (Cape Town), captained by Chulumanco Yiko
- The Takeover (Johannesburg), captained by Lauren Fredericks
With every possession carrying the potential to alter the standings, the tournament showcased the rapid growth and competitive depth of 3×3 basketball in South Africa. The crowned men’s and women’s champions now turn their focus to the global stage in Manila, where they will go head-to-head against national winners from around the globe on December 5.