BAL: Cape Verde Shines in the 1st Game of the Playoffs
Kriol Star defeated FUS Rabat 91-88 in their Basketball Africa League (BAL) playoff opener. The game took place at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, on Friday, June 6. The Cape Verdean team trailed by 10 points in the third quarter, but came back to win the game with Jalan McCloud scoring the winning basket with 16 seconds remaining.
Kriol Star was founded by the Almeida brothers ten years ago as a social project for young people from underprivileged neighborhoods. The initiative aimed to include disadvantaged youth in society through sports. Today, they became the first Cape Verdean team to participate in the BAL playoffs. This victory marks a historic chapter for the archipelago.
Joel Ntambwe was the Cape Verdeans' top scorer with 22 points. Ivan Almeida, the team's driving force, achieved a rare triple-double: 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. For the Moroccans, Yacine Baeri shone with 22 points and accuracy from beyond the three-point line. He made seven three-pointers on eight attempts.
The Kriol Star coach highlighted the team's unity.We adjusted the markings and kept calm", explained McCloud. The team will now face Al Ahli Tripoli (defeated by Al Ittihad). The goal is to advance to the semifinals of the continental tournament.
Social Foundation
Kriol Star was founded in 2015 by the Almeida brothers, who converted abandoned land into fields of hope. The project prioritized basketball as a tool for social inclusion, and young people from peripheral areas like Monte Sossego, among others, gained access to regular training under their guidance.
The initiative was successful and expanded to other islands in the Cape Verdean archipelago, such as Santo Antão, where they built multi-sport community centers. These spaces serve as comprehensive training centers and are also used for supplementary educational activities.
The project has always prioritized combating youth marginalization through sports. Basketball has thus become a vehicle of hope, and athletes like Ivan Almeida embody this mission, transforming from beneficiaries into continental ambassadors.
The path to the BAL required consecutive victories in the "Road to BAL" tournament, a tournament that tested physical and mental limits. Each preliminary victory built this collective history. In 2025, they became the first Cape Verdean team to reach the BAL's decisive stage.
This feat inspired thousands of young athletes in the country and became a social phenomenon that united the archipelago in front of the screens. Thousands of children grab rag balls, dreaming of imitating their idols. The African dream becomes real when communities invest in their talents, and it is now materializing in Pretoria.
Battle of Pretoria
The game started evenly in the first half in Pretoria, under the lights of the SunBet Arena, where the Cape Verdeans began the match with their nerves on edge. The Moroccans imposed a fast pace in the second period, capitalizing on the Cape Verdeans' defensive lapses with Yacine Baeri scoring consecutive three-pointers before halftime.
FUS Rabat took a ten-point lead in the third period, casting a cloud of doubt over the debutants Kriol Star. However, they responded with aggressive defense in the final period, with captain Ivan Almeida piercing the opposing defense with precise passes, while Joel Ntambwe reduced the deficit with decisive baskets.
With five minutes remaining, a difficult three-pointer by McCloud revived Cape Verdean hopes, but the Moroccans cut the deficit to 89-88 in the final seconds. The highlight came when Almeida threw a long pass to McCloud, isolated under the basket. The American dunked the ball spectacularly with 16 seconds remaining, deciding the match.
The reaction from the stands signaled the birth of a new force in African basketball. Faces painted with the colors of the Cape Verdean flag watched history unfold before their eyes. This unique moment symbolizes the rise of teams from social projects, where social barriers were broken with sweat and clever tactics.
Game Heroeso
Jalan McCloud, a reinforcement brought in for the playoffs, justified the investment with a brilliant cerebral performance. In addition to his decisive 21 points, the guard made five steals and read the plays clearly. "The final play came from a detailed study," the American revealed after the game. His quick adaptation to the collective system surprised observers.
Ivan Almeida established himself as the backbone of the team, distributing the ball with the calm of a veteran. His triple-double ranks him among the best in the competition. The Almeida-Ntambwe duo served as a tireless engine, compensating for the team's limitations with game intelligence.
Joel Ntambwe acted as a knife in pressure zones, dismantling defensive schemes. This connection proves the value of collective effort over individualism. Each player understood their role tactically.
On the other side, Yacine Baeri shone, showing off his shooting prowess, converting seven of eight three-pointers. The Moroccan's performance kept FUS Rabat in the running.
The Way to Go
The Kriol Stars will now face Al Ahli Tripoli (defeated by Al Ittihad in the previous match). A victory in the next match guarantees a place in the tournament's semifinals. Preparations are intensifying with rigorous analysis of the opponent's weaknesses, and the coach has called for maximum concentration for the upcoming matches.
“Basketball requires forty minutes of focus,” he recalled.
The atmosphere on the islands is one of restrained joy, with thousands of people watching the broadcasts on ESPN, as the competition is being broadcast in 214 countries. Cape Verde is following its representatives' historic journey live as the playoffs continue until June 14th, bringing together eight African basketball teams vying for the title at the SunBet Arena.
Ivan Almeida summed up the team's sentiment.
“This victory proves our capacity, but the work continues.”
“We carry on our backs the dreams of an entire nation”.
The African dream remains alive in Pretoria as the players promise to honor the social project that founded them, knowing they carry a legacy greater than simple trophies.
Conclusiono
The Kriol Star's victory goes beyond a simple sporting feat, crowning ten years of social commitment to the most disadvantaged. By defeating giants like FUS Rabat, the Cape Verdeans changed the hierarchy of African basketball. The strength shown in their comeback from ten points reflects the character forged by the island's hardships.
The BAL is increasingly asserting itself as a stage for new continental powers. Until June 14th, Pretoria will be the stage for battles that will reshape the African sports map. Cape Verde celebrates not only the result but also the proof that social projects can reach the top. The archipelago teaches that dreaming together transcends geographical boundaries.
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