BEIJING, China — Rwanda’s RSSB Tigers secured their first victory at the 2026 FIBA Intercontinental Cup after edging China’s Shanghai Sharks 117-115 in a dramatic Group A encounter that required overtime on Wednesday.
The Tigers, representing Africa after winning the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL), recovered from a slow start to produce a remarkable comeback at the National Indoor Stadium in Beijing. FIBA lists RSSB Tigers, Shanghai Sharks and Lithuania’s Rytas Vilnius in Group A, with the top two teams advancing to the semifinals.
Shanghai Sharks dominated the opening quarter, taking it 30-17, before adding another 30 points in the second period. RSSB Tigers responded with 29 points in the second quarter but went into halftime trailing 60-46.
The third quarter ended level at 25-25, leaving Shanghai in control heading into the final period.
RSSB Tigers then produced their strongest spell of the game, outscoring Shanghai 32-18 in the fourth quarter to level the game at 103-103 and force five minutes of overtime.
The contest remained tight in overtime, with the two teams tied at 115-115 late in the extra period.
RSSB Tigers captain Antino Jackson Jr. was then fouled while attempting a three-point shot. He converted two of his three free throws to put the Rwandan side ahead 117-115 with seconds remaining.
Shanghai had a final opportunity to level the game, but the attempt missed, allowing RSSB Tigers to celebrate a dramatic victory.
Craig Randall II led the Tigers with 30 points, while Tyler Bey added 19, Osborn Shema scored 16 and Ntore Habimana contributed 15.
For Shanghai, Brandon Goodwin produced a standout individual performance with 37 points, but his contribution was not enough to prevent the Chinese champions from falling to the African representatives. FIBA had identified Goodwin as one of Shanghai’s key players heading into the tournament.
The victory puts RSSB Tigers in contention for a place in the semifinals. The team will now wait for the outcome of Thursday’s Group A meeting between Rytas Vilnius and Shanghai Sharks, which will determine the final qualification picture.
RSSB Tigers had opened their campaign on Tuesday with a 107-89 defeat to Rytas Vilnius.
The 2026 FIBA Intercontinental Cup features six teams divided into two groups of three. The top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals, while the third-placed teams meet in the fifth-place game. The tournament is scheduled to conclude on September 27 in Beijing.
For Rwanda and African basketball, RSSB Tigers’ comeback against Shanghai marks a significant result on the global stage, as the BAL champions continue their campaign against champions from other major basketball competitions around the world.
