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Tag: BAL

  • Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli crowned 2025 BAL Champions

    Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli crowned 2025 BAL Champions

    Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli defeated defending champions Petro de Luanda of Angola 88-67, to be crowned the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Champions on Saturday at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa.

    Al Ahli, which made its BAL debut this season, is the first team from Libya to win the BAL Championship.

    BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall and FIBA Africa President Anibal Manave presented Al Ahli with the BAL Championship Trophy.

    Al Ahli’s Hakeem Olajuwon was named the 2025 BAL MVP.

    For the first time in BAL history, the 2025 champions received championship rings, following a tradition long associated with global basketball excellence.

    APR defeated Egypt’s Al Ittihad 123–90 in the third-place game yesterday, setting a league record for the most points scored in a single game.

    Several former NBA players attended games during the 2025 BAL Playoffs and Finals, including 2014 NBA champion Boris Diaw (France; ties to Senegal), seven-time NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady (U.S.), BAL Ambassadors and NBA Africa investors Luol Deng (South Sudan), Ian Mahinmi (France; ties to Benin) and Joakim Noah (grandfather from Cameroon), 2015 FIBA AfroBasket champion Olumide Oyedeji (Nigeria), former NBA player Hasheem Thabeet (Tanzania) and former NBA player and Olympian Pops Mensah-Bonsu (Ghana).

    The BAL has also announced the Coach of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Sportsmanship Award winner, All-BAL First Team, All-BAL Defensive Team, and Ubuntu Award winner.

    The voting panels varied for each award and comprised fans, coaches, team captains, media, broadcasters, and scouts.

  • APR and Petro De Luanda qualify for BAL Semi finals

    APR and Petro De Luanda qualify for BAL Semi finals

    Rwandan side APR and defending  Champions Petro De Luanda of Angola are through to the Basketball Africa League (BAL), Semifinals after winning their quarter final matches against Rivers Hoopers and US Monastir  respectively in Pretoria yesterday  .

    APR overcame Rivers Hoopers from Nigeria by 104-73 in the quarter final.

    The Rwandan team was led by Nuni Omot with 21 points and Aliou Diarra with a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds.

    APR shot an impressive 50% from beyond the arc and 62.5% from the field overall.

    For the River Hoopers, Madut Akec paced the team with 21 points, and Raphael Putney chipped in 12.

    Meanwhile,  Petro de Luanda from Angola advanced to the BAL last 4 stage  after defeating US Monastir of Tunisia 95-84.

    Kendrick Ray led all scorers with 20 points, and Yanick Moreira scored 15.

    Patrick Hardy Jr. led US Monastir with 17 points while Firas Lahyani added 15 in the loss.

    The BAL Semifinals are set for Wednesday, July 11. Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya will face APR at 5:00 p.m. EAT, followed by Al Ittihad from Egypt vs. Petro de Luanda of Angola at 8:00 p.m. EAT.