The esteemed poet Robert Frost once wrote, “the best laid plans of mice and men go awry”. Meaning, things can often go “wrong” despite well intentions and diligent preparation.

Add into any scenario a global pandemic and what the players and management of the Basketball National League were able to achieve in the 2020/21 season was nothing short of admirable.

Anticipation for the start of the 2020/2021 campaign was especially heightened when the league announced the formation of a professional women’s league under the BNL banner. Needless to say, the ladies did not disappoint and seized upon this long awaited opportunity in grand fashion! Limited by Covid restrictions and organizational logistics, the women’s league made its debut with teams from the Soweto Panthers, Tshwane Suns and Egoli Magic laying the groundwork for an action filled inaugural season and even bigger things to come.

On the men’s side, the Egoli Magic waited in the wings looking to defend their 2019 title. With Covid19 once again being an ever present factor, the regular season consisted of the other contenders jockeying for position in hopes of qualifying for a spot in the quarterfinals.

The season for both the men and ladies got off to a resounding start. As they quickly shook off the off-season rust, the high tempo action that has become a league trademark was in full swing…until lockdown measures brought the games to a grinding halt as Covid cases surged, and the country once again had to adjust and put public health over other pursuits.

Not to be dismayed, the league and players persevered. When the games resumed, it was as if no one missed a beat. The ladies continued their round robin competition with the young squad from the Soweto Panthers showing remarkable progress week by week led by Mamotsoari Mofokeng’s 7.8 points, 3.3 rebounds per game and Thando Mbuthuma’s 5.5 points, 6 rebounds per game. But ultimately, it would be the mix of veterans and younger players employed by the Egoli Magic and Tshwane Suns that would see these teams compete to make history as the first ever BNL Women’s champions.

On the men’s side, the quarterfinals eventually stacked up as follows:
QF1: Egoli Magic 81-65 Eastern Cape Windbreakers
QF2: Soweto Panthers 100-61 Northwest Eagles
QF3: Tshwane Suns 59-36 Northern Cape Zebras
QF4: KZN Marlins 77-60 Western Cape Mountaineers

With the Panthers, Suns, Magic and Marlins inevitably clawing their way to a semi-finals berth.

The marquee matchup of the  semi-finals in the men’s division pitted the Tshwane Suns against the Soweto Panthers. Despite a yeoman’s effort by Kagiso “Chief” Ngoetjana and Emmanuel Shine of the Suns, victory was not meant to be as the Panther’s stifling defense and big shot making allowed them to outlast their opponent en-route to a 75 – 70 victory.

In the second semi-final matchup, despite the efforts of their big man, Liam Reid, the KZN Marlins one again fell short of a finals appearance as the Egoli Magic showed their championship mettle with a well balanced attack spearheaded by game MVP Kgotso Ntuane’s 16 points and 7 rebounds to help his team advance to a third consecutive finals appearance.