By Brown Msyani
Onform Haleluya Kavalambi yesterday steered ABC to defeat Pazi 58-55 in a hot Regional Basketball league contest at the National Indoor Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Kavalambi posted his career best of 25 points as colleague Ibrahim Mwinyi put in a 9-point rejoinder to hand Pazi their season's first defeat.
ABC, who beat Oilers at the same venue last weekend, were leading 30-25 at the end of the first half. The third quarter saw the teams tying at 14 points.
Pazi went on fighting to post a slim 15-14 lead at the end of the fourth quarter, but they failed to beat the 3-point margin sealed by their opponents.
Hard fighters Dennis Kibula who scored 25 points and colleague Mohamed Mshale who added 14 points, played impressively for Pazi.
At the same venue yesterday, title holders JKT defeated PT Stars 66-56 in the second RBA match.
JKT opened a 33-23 lead until the breather, then recharged their victory with a 14-point haul in the third quarter while restricting their opponents to mere a 3- point gain.
Come the final quarter and JKT wrapped up their onslaught, zipping ahead to 18 points as their opponent trailed at 15.
Another triumphant squad yesterday were Chui, who clobbered Mgualini 73-45 in a one-sided encounter, as Jeshi Stars beat Police 90-4 in the fourth match of the tournament.
The matchées top marksman Dotto Charles who posted 30 points, followed by team mate Benedict Mkangala, who carded 21 points.
JKT's Himid Choka, who penned 14 points, was the matcheés top scorer. Others who played impressively were Osea Balaigwa and Gwakisa Mwasakyeni who chalked 14 points each for PT Stars.