For Lebesa Selepe, the journey came full circle at Klipspruit Sports Centre. Growing up just a few streets away from the venue, the MBB Blue Soldiers captain returned to home ground on 22 August and walked away a champion once again.
MBB Blue Soldiers successfully defended their Red Bull Half Court title, becoming South Africa’s first back-to-back national champions since the competition launched locally in 2025. And now, it’s bigger than Soweto. The Blue Soldiers will join women’s champions The Takeover in representing South Africa at the Red Bull Half Court World Final in Manila, Philippines, on 5 December 2026.
For Selepe and his squad, this isn’t unfamiliar territory. After winning the inaugural national title in 2025, the team took their game to Dubai, where they defeated Macedonia and the Maldives, narrowly lost to the USA, topped their group and reached the quarterfinals — the furthest a South African Red Bull Half Court team has gone at a World Final.
Image by Red Bull Content Pool
Now, they’re back for more.
“To win one championship is difficult, but what’s even harder is to defend your title. That’s exactly what we did,” Selepe said.
The captain’s squad brought serious experience to Soweto. Arinze Nino Dim has BAL experience and multiple domestic honours, Neo Mothiba brings more than 50 senior national team caps and five Afrobasket campaigns, while Rabbi Belolo-Loussaloussou returns after travelling with the squad to Dubai in 2025.
But for Selepe, winning in Soweto made the moment even sweeter.
“Every time a team gets the opportunity to compete on an international stage, it’s a blessing,” he said.
And after last year’s quarterfinal finish, the mission for Manila is clear: go further. On the women’s side, the competition was wide open after 2025 champions Hoop Hustlers did not return to defend their crown. Five teams entered the battle, but when the dust settled, The Takeover were the last team standing. Led by 18-year-old shooting guard Liamisha Aboo, alongside Lauren Fredericks, Tlhogi Taukobong and Hope Mbele, the squad fought their way through a hard-fought final to secure the national title.
“We really wanted this, and it showed on court. We didn’t give up. It was a big fight the whole way,” Aboo said.
Now, the newly crowned champions are Manila-bound. The plan? Get some rest, get back to practice and keep playing the game that got them here.
Image by Red Bull Content Pool
Red Bull Half Court wasn’t just about what happened between the lines. Klipspruit Sports Centre was turned into a full-on basketball and culture experience, with world-renowned shooting coach Chris Matthews, aka Lethal Shooter, meeting fans and running a shooting challenge. There was also a live set from Kamo Mphela, an open dunk contest and a 1v1 competition. But at the centre of it all was the bigger picture: giving South African basketball another platform to be seen.
From Lebesa Selepe returning home to defend his crown, to The Takeover breaking through and earning their shot at the world stage, the future of 3×3 basketball continues to move. On 5 December, MBB Blue Soldiers and The Takeover will carry the South African flag as they take on national champions from around the world. Soweto handled the national stage. Now it’s time to see what South Africa can do against the world.
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