Oliver Albert
After battling for about two months, the Dar es Salaam's RBA League enters a nail-baiting semi-final stage with four top teams locking horns on Saturday.
Savio, who topped the league with 23 points entertain third placed Oilers while second placed ABC take on Pazi at the National Indoor Stadium.
Hapless JKT, who were the defending champions failed to prove their mighty after being bundled out. Their title defence hopes were irreparably damaged when they lost to both Pazi and Oilers.
JKT bounced back with a resounding 67-41 win over Vijana alias City Bulls to tie with both Oilers and Pazi on 21 points, but the victory could not qualify them following their earlier defeats.
"The teams tied, but our regulations are clear on this, whoever lost to the other exits automatically, thus JKT lost to both sides and thus did not qualify," clarified Dar es Salaam Basketball (BD) technical director Manase Zabloni.
In the RBA women's league, already Jeshi Stars and Don Bosco Lady Lioness have made it to the final. The final ties for both men and women will be held on Sunday at the same venue.
The Lioness romped into the final after whipping hard-fighting JKT Stars 52 � 47 in a highly competitive game while Jeshi Stars sank Police 85-63 to guarantee their final berth.