BAL 2025: Petro de Luanda is the Runner-Up
Petro de Luanda finished runner-up in the Basketball Africa League 2025 (BAL 2025) this Saturday. The 67-88 defeat to Al Ahly Tripoli occurred at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa. The debutant Libyan team became the first representative of its country to win the trophy, and coach Abou Chacra Fouad received the Coach of the Year award.
The final of the fifth edition of the BAL brought together the defending champion Angola and the debuting Libyan team. The first half ended with a 27-19 advantage for the Libyans. Despite Petro's partial comeback in the second half (38-43), Libya's dominance remained irreversible. The final result thus crowned a new North African champion, ending the Egyptian and Tunisian hegemony.
Jean Jacques Boissy was named tournament MVP after a decisive performance. Petro could not match its best performance, but managed to reach its second final. The Angolan Tricolor tried to react with Childe Dundão's passing and Carlos Morais's substitutions, but Al Ahly Tripoli's collective superiority proved undeniable in the decisive minutes.
Third place went to Rwanda's APR, which defeated Al Ittihad 123-90. The consolation game set a new BAL single-game record for points scored. The closing ceremony was also attended by NBA legend Tracy McGrady.
The Road to the Final
Petro de Luanda reached the BAL's decisive stage as the fifth seed after a patchy run. The Angolan team defeated Rwanda's APR in the quarterfinals with a tight 78-75 score. In the semifinals, the Tricolor defeated Nigeria's Rivers Hoopers thanks to Yanick Moreira's 22 points.
Al Ahly Tripoli maintained a perfect unbeaten record throughout the tournament. The Libyans demonstrated great offensive prowess, averaging 89 points per game. The duo of Jean Jacques Boissy and Fabian White Jr. contributed 60% of the team's points. Much of the credit went to coach Fouad, who implemented a defensive system capable of suffocating all opponents.
The BAL 2025 final repeated the group stage clash where Al Ahly had beaten Petro by 15 points. Petro tried to adjust tactics, promoting greater protection in the painted area and improving the use of three-point shots, however, the psychological pressure of defending the title weighed on the shoulders of the Angolan players.
The first half revealed Libya's fast-paced strategy, leading to Petro committing seven fouls in five minutes, benefiting the opposition's free throws. The introduction of South African Samkelo Cele excited the home crowd, but was unable to stop Libya's eight-point lead.
Final Outcome
The second half saw a stronger comeback from Angola, led by Gerson Domingos. The guard's 13 points cut the deficit to 38-43 at halftime, but Al Ahly responded with aggressive defense that forced ten turnovers, and center Aliou Diarra dominated the offensive rebounds with seven rebounds.
The final outcome came shortly after halftime with a 15-2 run from Al Ahly. Angolan coach Paulo Justo called a timeout after seven minutes to try to change the course of the game, but the Libyan team maintained their effective counterattacks under Boissy. The third period ended with a 12-point margin (52-64).
The final period confirmed Petro's offensive collapse, with only 15 points scored, with the Angolans missing 12 consecutive three-pointers. Al Ahly extended their lead to 25 points with three minutes remaining, and the South African crowd was captivated by the newly crowned champions' performance.
MVP Boissy finished with 24 points, five rebounds, and nine assists. On the Angolan side, Yanick Moreira's 18 points stood out. Petro returns to Luanda without the trophy, but with a second runner-up finish in its history in the BAL.
Conclusion
Petro de Luanda, despite the defeat, solidified its status as a continental powerhouse. Angolan basketball maintains its ability to produce elite teams at the African level.
BAL increasingly reinforces the quality of African national championships by promoting the expansion of the sport on the continent. The Angolan team's second-place finish reinforces Petro's legacy and includes the revelation of new talents like Gerson Domingos.
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Picture: © 2025 Nokwanda Zondi / BackpagePix
