Petro de Luanda has made history by becoming the first sub-Saharan African team to win the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Championship. The Angolan team defeated Libya’s Al Ahly Ly 107–94 in a thrilling final held at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. This victory comes after previous champions hailed from Egypt and Tunisia, marking a significant milestone for sub-Saharan basketball.
Stellar Performance and Road to Victory
The journey of Petro de Luanda to the championship was marked by impressive performances throughout the tournament. They went 5-2 during the Kalahari Conference group phase in Pretoria, South Africa. In the playoffs, they secured victories against Senegal’s AS Douanes and South Africa’s Cape Town Tigers in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.
MVP and Defensive Player of the Year
Al Ahly Ly’s Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. was named the 2024 BAL Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Defensive Player of the Year. Lual-Acuil Jr. led Al Ahly Ly to a 5-4 record during the Nile Conference group phase in Cairo, Egypt. His per-game averages of 21.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks earned him these prestigious accolades.
Coach of the Year
Rivers Hoopers’ head coach Odaudu Ogoh received the Coach of the Year award for leading his team to a third-place finish with a 6-3 record during the Sahara Conference group phase in Dakar, Senegal, and the playoffs.
Rivers Hoopers Head Coach, Ogoh Odaudu has been voted BAL Season 4 coach of the year.#Congratulation#BAL4 pic.twitter.com/fByxCBS3ih
— Gist (@Gist_tweets) May 31, 2024
Sportsmanship Award
Will Perry, the point guard for Rivers Hoopers, was honored with the Sportsmanship Award for exemplifying the ideals of sportsmanship and camaraderie. Perry also earned a spot on the 2024 All-BAL First Team.
All-BAL First and Defensive Teams
The 2024 All-BAL First Team featured:
- Will Perry, Rivers Hoopers (Point Guard)
- Samkelo Cele, Cape Town Tigers (Guard)
- Chris Crawford, US Monastir (Guard)
- Jo Lual-Acuil Jr., Al Ahly Ly (Forward)
- Aliou Diarra, FUS Rabat Basketball (Forward/Center)
The 2024 All-BAL Defensive Team included:
- Souleyman Diabate, Al Ahly Ly (Point Guard)
- Samkelo Cele, Cape Town Tigers (Guard)
- Abdoulaye Harouna, AS Douanes (Guard)
- Jo Lual-Acuil Jr., Al Ahly Ly (Forward)
- Aliou Diarra, FUS Rabat Basketball (Forward/Center)
Ubuntu Award
AS Douanes guard and team captain Alkaly Ndour won the Ubuntu Award for his efforts to use basketball to positively impact youth in Senegal. Ndour’s “Kayelennioufo” tournament involves nearly 250 amateur players in his home neighborhood of Bopp in Dakar.
The 2024 BAL season showcased remarkable talent and sportsmanship, with Petro de Luanda’s victory marking a historic achievement for sub-Saharan African basketball. The BAL continues to grow, providing a platform for African basketball clubs and players to shine on the international stage.
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