Dream start for Kriol as Elite 16 tips off at Nyayo

The Islanders, who received a wild card to participate in the East Division Elite 16, were a cut above their Malawian opponents in the first half, with the second half equally competed.

Kriol Star came out strong, taking an early lead in the first quarter (32-7) and maintaining dominance throughout.

Their relentless offense and impenetrable defence held Bravehearts to single digits in the opening quarter, setting the tone for the remainder of the game.

Kriol Star’s lead peaked at 36 points, with a balanced scoring effort led by standout performances from Ali Lahibichi, who contributed 15 points and 8 rebounds, and Helton Junior Lopes Correia, adding 14 points on 50% shooting.

Joel Emmanuel Almeida Tavares also made a significant impact with 10 points, 6 assists, and three steals.

For Bravehearts, Christopher Karrol Williams was the bright spot with 17 points, though the team struggled offensively, shooting just 36.8% from the field and an abysmal 22.2% from beyond the arc.

Kriol Star capitalized on turnovers, scoring 10 points directly from Bravehearts’ errors, while also maintaining dominance in second-chance points (19 to Bravehearts’ 10) and fast-break points (15 to 5).

The game’s defining moment came during Kriol Star's second-quarter 12-0 scoring run, further widening the gap and stifling any hopes of a Bravehearts comeback.

Despite brief flashes of resilience from Bravehearts, including a 6-0 run in the final quarter, Kriol Star’s lead and game control were never truly threatened.

"It was a very good game for us. We came out very defensive in the first half for this win which was very important to set the tone and put us in the right mindset. We, however, have to stay focused for 40 minutes. We are taking it game by game as we look to reach our goal," Kriol skipper Joel Almeida said after the win.

His sentiments were echoed by coach Hugo who emphasized on the importance of such a start especially with a team that had been quickly assembled after they received their wild card.

Bravehearts will be out to redeem themselves on Friday against neighbouring MBB Blue Soldiers from South Africa while Kriol chase a second win when they take on home side Nairobi City Thunder.