The sixth edition of the Youth Classic Basketball Tournament, hosted by African Grassroot Hoops at the German International School in Cape Town, concluded with champions being crowned on Sunday, 21 June.
In the boys’ division, Duep Basketball Academy from Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal defeated the Soweto Basketball Academy, the 2025 champions, scoring a 20-0 victory. This was an unusual outcome for the Soweto team, who are accustomed to dominating their opponents regardless of their origins. However, they had no answers to Duep’s questions on Sunday.
The Soweto Basketball Academy reached the final after a hard-fought 60-53 victory over SA Elite on Sunday morning. Meanwhile, Duep Basketball Academy secured a place in the title game by defeating the Langa Kings 52-33. Both teams had finished first in their groups.
The Soweto Basketball Academy topped Group A, winning all three of their group matches against the Cape Town Sharks, Blouberg, and the Fundamental Academy, respectively.
Duep finished first in Group B, from which SA Elite also qualified for the semifinals after finishing second in the group.
In Group C, the Langa Kings demonstrated their superiority over the Hot Shots Basketball Club, the Montana Vikings, and the George Hustlers.
In the girls’ competition, the Soweto Basketball Academy successfully defended the title by holding off the Duep Basketball Academy in the final by a narrow 30-28 margin.
That victory left the Soweto Basketball Academy and the Duep Basketball Academy with one title and one runner-up finish each.
The girls’ division consisted of only two groups, featuring 20 teams in total, which was two more teams than the 18 that played in last year’s Youth Classic Basketball Tournament.
In the semifinals, the Soweto Basketball Academy defeated the Hot Shots 40-32, while the Duep Basketball Academy scored a 58-24 victory over the Langa Queens.
RESULTS
Sunday, 21 June
Boys’ Competition
Semifinals
Soweto Basketball Academy 60-53 SA Elite
Duep Basketball Academy 52-33 Langa Kings
Final
Duep 20-0 Soweto Basketball Academy
Girls’ Competition
Semifinals
Soweto Basketball Academy 40-30 Hot Shots
Duep Basketball Academy 58-24 Langa Queens
Final
Soweto Basketball Academy 30-28 Duep Basketball
