The MBB Blue Soldiers team, a basketball club from Johannesburg representing talents from the elite Basketball Africa League, retained their national 3x3 title at the Red Bull Half Court final held in Soweto on August 22nd.
The Takeover team also won the women's title at the same event, mirroring the success of the men's team. Both squads have qualified to represent South Africa at the World Final scheduled for December 5, 2026, in Manila, Philippines.
Defending Home City
MBB Blue Soldiers became the first consecutive national champions of South Africa since the competition began at the local level in 2025. Captain Lebesa Selepe, who grew up near the tournament venue, felt a deep personal significance in defending this title in front of the home crowd.
Selepe noted the difficulty of the task, stating: 'We came here as defending champions, which is not easy. Winning one championship is hard, but defending your title is even harder.' He added that they achieved exactly that.
The title defense was secured by an experienced squad prepared for international competitions. Arinze Nino Dim brought experience from two seasons in the Basketball Africa League, while Neo Motiba has over 50 appearances for the senior national team. Rabbi Belolo-Lussalussu coached the team in the 2025 World Final in Dubai, where they reached the quarterfinals.
Belolo-Lussalussu emphasized the broader positive impact of this victory on domestic sports. He stated that such an event is very important for South African basketball because it draws attention to the country. Furthermore, it gives young people the opportunity to learn from players who won last year, as well as from the current year's winners, showing them that they can succeed.
Women's Title
The absence of the 2025 champions, the Hoop Hustlers, made the women's competition open. The Takeover successfully navigated competitive battles against five teams, including the 2025 silver medalists Size Nenye, Blue Flames, Buckets and Bruises, Ghiv Us, and the women's MBB Blue Soldiers team.
Eighteen-year-old point guard Liamisha Abu explained the victory through resilience and strong team chemistry with teammates Lauren Fredericks, Tlogi Taukobong, and Hope Mbele. Abu said: 'We really wanted this, and it showed on the court. We didn't give up. It was a big fight throughout the match.'
Regarding the upcoming World Final, Abu reported that the team will focus on recovery and minor tactical adjustments rather than a complete overhaul of the successful strategy. She added: 'I don't think we need to change anything radically. We had a very good game, so maybe just a few practices to polish some points.'
Court Culture and International Ambitions
In addition to the main tournament, the event showcased a broader basketball culture. Professional shooting coach Chris Matthews, known as Lethal Shooter, organized a shooting contest for fans. Organizers also held an open dunk contest and an individual match for players who left the tournament in the early stages. Artist Kamo Mphela concluded the entertainment program with a live performance.
After the conclusion of the domestic tournament, MBB Blue Soldiers and The Takeover are turning their attention to the international arena. The teams will travel to the Philippines in December, aiming to surpass South Africa's quarterfinal result from last year.