Eagles Basketball League 2025 Playoffs & Awards Ceremony

The 2025 Eagles Basketball League Playoffs marked another historic milestone for our community. Over three thrilling days at St John’s College, Eleven [11] divisions fought for glory, cheered on by passionate supporters. With over 2000 participants for a second consecutive year, more than 1000 scheduled matches and an increase of female participation by more than 200%, the Eagles League continues to grow into one of South Africa’s most inspiring grassroots basketball platforms.

2025 Season and Playoff Schedule and Scores here.

🏀 Playoff Highlights

From Friday’s opening games to Sunday’s showpiece finals, the action was relentless. Young stars and seasoned players alike lit up the courts, producing moments of pure basketball brilliance.

U10 Division: Aelen Stars claimed gold in the finals against Africa Basketball Academy, with MVP Jaiden Murerwa leading the way.
U11 Division: Lebone II College, in debut season, edged Basket Buddies 29–25 in a nail-biting final, with Siyanda Makhombe named MVP.
U13 Division: Wanderers Scorpions defeating the defending Champs, African Wizards, in the final. MVP honors went to Nolitha Cele.
U14 Division: A-Eastside Ballers triumphed as back-to-back Champs in a tense battle over Tip-Off Sport Vikings, with Tiago de Abreu crowned MVP.
U16 Boys A Division: A-ESB lifted the trophy, led by MVP Redirile Makgoro.
U16 Boys B Division: B-Maverick Stars secured a dramatic two-point victory over the Hornets, with Noah Karfor named MVP.
U18 Boys B Division: Evaton Warriors stormed to victory, with Ogone Seelo recognized as MVP.
U18 Boys A Division: Soweto Basketball Academy powered past Jozi Stars in the final, with Thando Vilakazi earning MVP.
Upper Eagles: Soweto Basketball Academy also shone with back-to-back titles in an Upper Eagles Finals rematch against Alexandra Basketball, with Ntokozo Thonga standing out as MVP.
Junior Eagles: Maverick Stars, 2024 Silver medalist, emerged as 2025 champions, with Zuri Jimerson taking MVP awards.
Mini Eagles: Africa Basketball Academy emerged as champions, with Tamara Cele taking MVP awards.

🏆 Awards Ceremony — Full Roll of Honor

First Ceremony (16:00, Court 6)

U10 Mixed Division:
- Bronze🥉 SJ Eagles Basketball
- Silver🥈 Africa Basketball Academy
- Gold🥇 Aelen Stars — MVP: Jaiden Murerwa
U11 Mixed Division:
- Bronze🥉 North Avengers
- Silver🥈 Basket Buddies
- Gold🥇 Lebone II College — MVP: Siyanda Makhombe
Mini Eagles Girls Division:
- Silver🥈 Hornets Basketball
- Gold🥇 Africa Basketball Academy — MVP: Tamara Cele
Junior Eagles Girls Division:
- Bronze🥉 Joburg Warriors
- Silver🥈 Soweto Basketball Academy
- Gold🥇 A-Maverick Stars — MVP: Zuri Jimerson
U16 Boys B-Division:
- Bronze🥉 Evaton Warriors
- Silver🥈 Hornets Basketball
- Gold🥇 B-Maverick Stars — MVP: Noah Karfor
U16 Boys A-Division:
- Bronze🥉 King’s Academy
- Silver🥈 Wanderers Scorpions
- Gold🥇 A-Eastside Ballers Academy — MVP: Redirile Makgoro

Second Ceremony (17:00, Court 1)

U13 Mixed Division:
- Bronze🥉 A-Eastside Ballers Academy
- Silver🥈 African Wizards
- Gold🥇 Wanderers Scorpions — MVP: Nolitha Cele
U14 Boys Division:
- Bronze🥉 Africa Basketball Academy
- Silver🥈 Tip-Off Sport Vikings
- Gold🥇 A-Eastside Ballers Academy — MVP: Tiago de Abreu
Upper Eagles Girls Division:
- Bronze🥉 King’s Basketball Academy
- Silver🥈 Alexandra Basketball Club
- Gold🥇 Soweto Basketball Academy — MVP: Ntokozo Thonga
U18 Boys B-Division:
- Bronze🥉 Alexandra Basketball Club
- Silver🥈 Royal Bafokeng Academy
- Gold🥇 Evaton Warriors — MVP: Ogone Seelo
U18 Boys A-Division:
- Bronze🥉 Africa Basketball Academy
- Silver🥈 Jozi Stars
- Gold🥇 Soweto Basketball Academy — MVP: Thando Vilakazi

🏀 Eagles Basketball League 2025 — All Stars & MVPs

U10 Mixed Division

All Stars:
- Aelen Stars — #24 Lwandle Galawe
- SJ Eagles — #10 Awelile Mbundu
- Rosebank Raptors — #2 Khumoetsile Mafoko
- Africa Basketball Academy — #24 Lowe Makgenene
MVP: Aelen Stars — #5 Jaiden Murerwa

U11 mixed Division

All Stars:
- Lebone II College — #3 Orateng Mogatusi
- North Avengers — #1 Rhulani Sithole
- Aelen Stars — #5 Jaiden Murerwa
- Basket Buddies — #5 Sandiso Zuma
MVP: Lebone II College — #4 Siyanda Makhombe

Mini Eagles girls division (ME)

All Stars:
- Hornets — #12 Ofentse Peete
- ABA — Sienna van der Bijl
- Hornets — #2 Sarah Conde
- ABA — #7 Imara Makgekgenene
MVP: Africa Basketball Academy — #19 Tamara Cele

Junior Eagles girls division (JE)

All Stars:
- A-Maverick Stars — #18 Kayla Karfor
- Joburg Warriors — #23 Kendra Zungu
- Soweto Basketball Academy — #6 Bokang Lefakane
- B-Maverick Stars — #36 Megan Tsai
MVP: A-Maverick Stars — #39 Zuri Jimerson

U16 Boys B-Division

All Stars:
- B-Maverick Stars — #10 Kai Geertshuis
- A-Maverick Stars — #17 Anashe Anzuluni
- Hornets — #7 Ray Tsai
- Evaton Warriors — #13 Lesedi Tladi
MVP: Maverick Stars — #4 Noah Karfor

U16 Boys A-Division

All Stars:
- King’s Academy — #23 Thato Nkabinde
- Wanderers Scorpions — #44 Divin Kabeya
- Soweto Basketball Academy — #4 Wandiswa Mlangeni
- East Side Ballers — #72 Munachiso Peterson
MVP: East Side Ballers — #43 Redirile Makgoro

U13 mixed Division

All Stars:
- Wanderers Scorpions — #15 Naseda Amankwah
- A-ESB — #7 Didintle Pesha
- JBA — #22 Ayabulela Chauke
- African Wizards — #32 Langelihle Nzama
MVP: Wanderers Scorpions — #10 Nolitha Cele

U14 boys Division

All Stars:
- A-ESB — #0 Daniel Unigwe
- Hornets — #3 Hayden Francis
- ABA — #25 Ayabulela Vutha
- TS Vikings — #60 Mofenyi Gororo
MVP: A-ESB — #16 Tiago de Abreu

Upper Eagles girls division (UE)

All Stars:
- King’s Academy — #23 Naveah Gwashero
- Alex BC — #15 Zinat Yisa
- Soweto Basketball Academy — #6 Bokang Lefakane
- Royal Bafokeng — #8 Olerato Malatsi
MVP: Soweto Basketball Academy — #10 Ntokozo Thonga

U18 Boys B-Division

All Stars:
- Evaton Warriors — #7 Muhuliseni Madzhiga
- Alexandra BC — #3 Thabang Seoketsa
- Northern Grizzlies — #4 Mecerdie Umba Ngoy
- Royal Bafokeng — #1 Aobakwe Rantho
MVP: Evaton Warriors — #9 Ogone Seelo

U18 Boys A-Division

All Stars:
- Africa Basketball Academy — #4 Luca Amerseder
- East Side Ballers — #43 Redirile Makgoro
- Soweto Basketball Academy — #1 Mlungisi Hlongwane
- Jozi Stars — #23 Siyabonga Mashaba
MVP: Soweto Basketball Academy — #9 Thando Vilakazi

🙏 Acknowledgements

The success of the 2025 Season and Playoffs was powered by:

Playing Venues: St John’s College, St Benedict’s College, and St Stithians College.
Vendors: Monate Coffee, Chip & Dip, Sausage Saloon & Nin’s Pancakes
Coverage: SuperSport Schools for live streaming the Mid-Season Tournament and the 2025 Playoffs.
Operations: Grounds and Support staff from schools, medics, referees, table officials, verification team, and administrators — with special thanks to Ria Mambane, Takalani Madima, Thando Myeza, Leruo Ramhitsana, Thabang Molebatsi & Avela Mini for outstanding weekly support.
Community: Clubs, players, coaches, families, and supporters who make the Eagles League a special place.

🚀 Looking Ahead: 2026 Outlook

The journey continues, with bigger and bolder plans for 2026:

Eagles Mini Division (ages 5–8): authentic Mini-Basketball opportunities for the youngest hoopers.
Over age 18 Divisions: including U23 and U25 Elite competition.
Division Elite Competition: Monthly “Top 40 Players” clash in U14–U18 categories.
Indoor & Outdoor Competitions: a true all-seasons program.
1000+ Matches LIVE: every single game streamed for fans, friends, and families.
International Elite Camps & Competitions: taking South African basketball onto the global stage.
Awards: Prestigious Awards Dinner & Ceremony.

💡 Final Word

The 2025 Playoffs proved once again that the Eagles Basketball League is more than a competition — it’s a movement. With record participation, rising female representation, and a vision for even greater growth, the future is nothing short of exciting.

We can’t wait for 2026!