Latest news with #BALPlayoffs
Zawya
10-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Basketball Africa League Announces Roster of Partners for Playoffs and Finals Underway Now in South Africa
Energade, Hyundai and Uber Join BAL's Existing Partner Roster that Features Rwanda Development Board, NIKE, Jordan Brand, Wilson, Afreximbank, Castle Lite, Hennessy, RwandAir and ServiceNow. Semifinals Tomorrow Will Feature Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya) vs. APR (Rwanda) at 4:00 p.m. CAT and Al Ittihad (Egypt) vs. Petro de Luanda (Angola) at 7:00 p.m. CAT. The Basketball Africa League (BAL) ( today announced the league's roster of marketing and merchandising partners for the 2025 BAL Playoffs that are underway now at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, and will culminate with the 2025 BAL Finals on Saturday, June 14 at 4:00 p.m. CAT. The new partners – Energade, Hyundai and Uber – are engaging fans in South Africa throughout the Playoffs and Finals and join the BAL's existing partner roster that features Foundational Partners Rwanda Development Board, NIKE, Jordan Brand and Wilson, as well as marketing partners Afreximbank, Castle Lite, Hennessy, RwandAir and ServiceNow. The 2025 BAL Playoffs, which are being held in South Africa for the first time, have featured the top eight teams ( from the three conference group phases that were held in Rabat, Morocco; Dakar, Senegal; and Kigali, Rwanda in April and May. The semifinals ( will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, June 11 when Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya) takes on APR (Rwanda) at 4:00 p.m. CAT and Al Ittihad (Egypt) plays Petro de Luanda (Angola) at 7:00 p.m. CAT. Tickets are on sale now at and Below are highlights of the partner activations throughout the BAL Playoffs and Finals: Energade As the Official Sports Drink Partner of the BAL Finals, Energade is hosting fan engagement activities in the BAL Fan Zone outside of the SunBet Arena where fans can stay active and hydrated. Hyundai As an Associate Partner of the BAL Playoffs and Finals, Hyundai is featured prominently with vehicle displays in the BAL Fan Zone and at the arena entrance. Fans engaging with the brand have the opportunity to win Hyundai and BAL merchandise and prizes. Uber Through the BAL's collaboration with Uber Eats, fans can conveniently order food from in-arena vendors right from their seats, with pickup available at a dedicated area on the concourse. Uber renamed the arena drop-off location in the Uber Rides App to 'SunBet Arena – Home of the BAL Finals.' The App also features BAL promotions offering fans discounted tickets to the Playoffs and Finals. Afreximbank As an Official Partner of the BAL, Afreximbank is supporting the off-court development of BAL players through BAL Advance, providing targeted training in areas such as nutrition, mental health, and financial literacy. Afreximbank is helping promote African creative talent by supporting emerging designers and showcasing their work through industry networking events organized by the league and at merchandise stands in the BAL Fan Zone. Castle Lite Castle Lite, the Official Beer Partner of the BAL, is engaging fans through a range of on-court and in-arena experiences. Hennessy Hennessy, the Official Spirit of the BAL, is engaging fans with a premium courtside experience at The Hennessy Lounge. The Hennessy Lounge is also hosting the brand's guests, including celebrities and influencers. NIKE Three-time WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson is gifting gift pairs of her newly launched NIKE A'One sneakers to the girls participating in the BAL4Her U-23 camp that is being held in conjunction with the Playoffs and Finals, marking the first time her shoes are being distributed in Africa. The camp is taking place from June 9-14, with former WNBA player Edniesha Curry returning as camp director for the second consecutive year. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Forbes
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
The Story Behind 2024 BAL MVP And DPOY Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.'s Return To BAL
One of the familiar faces returning to the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Playoffs currently underway in Pretoria, South Africa, is Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. He didn't have to come back; after all, what more was there to prove? In Season 4 of the BAL, Acuil swept the league's top individual honours, including Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, scoring champion, and selections to both the All-BAL First and All-Defensive Teams. His dominance was clear and unquestionable, yet those accolades were just the latest chapter in a career shaped by some of the world's toughest basketball environments. A seasoned professional with experience across Australia, Europe, the United States, and Asia, Acuil's résumé also includes an NBL championship with Melbourne United in 2021. However, when the season ended and his team fell just short of a championship, something deeper lingered. In an interview with during the BAL Playoffs in Pretoria, Acuil shared that it wasn't unfinished business in the usual sense that brought him back, it was a shared purpose, brotherhood, and a desire to play alongside family. 'Yeah, this guy over here,' Acuil laughed, gesturing to Majok Deng, who was seated nearby during the interview. 'Majok and I talked about it in Kigali after that last game. We just wanted to play together. Of course, you want to win the league, but more than anything, we wanted to have that experience of being on the same team.' That desire to reconnect and pursue something meaningful together brought him back to the continent and to a league that continues to grow in intensity, talent, and international attention. On paper, Acuil had options. With pro stints in Turkey, China, and Australia, his résumé was already stamped with global success. But Al Ittihad offered something different. Something personal. When the Egyptian powerhouse came calling, Acuil listened. They had already signed Majok Deng, and the opportunity felt rare, more than a roster move, it was a reunion grounded in trust, chemistry, and an unfinished storyline. 'I knew I wasn't going to be able to make the first conference games in Rabat, and they were okay with it,' Acuil said. 'Some teams were hesitant because I wasn't going to be there for the conference games, but this was the one team that was fine with me coming in late.' Acuil wasn't available for the early stages of the competition, missing the Kalahari Conference entirely, a stretch in which Al Ittihad went a flawless 6-0. With just one practice under his belt before suiting up, Acuil immediately sensed that the team was built on and was working towards one common goal, setting aside individual glory. 'Everyone seems very one-track-minded. Everyone wants to win the League,' he observed. 'No one's really too worried about stats or individual accolades. Everyone kind of has one goal in mind… so yeah, it's been kind of refreshing being around them.' An added layer to this team dynamic is the opportunity to create lifetime memories to later reminisce on with Deng, who he once again has been able to suit up with. 'Being able to be out there with somebody that you consider a brother, these are things that, when we get older, we can sit down and just talk trash to each other about.' Last season, Acuil and Majok helped lead Al Ahly to the BAL final, only to fall short of the title. The sting of that loss was real, but so were the lessons it left behind. 'My mindset stays the same, last year is last year. We lost. It is what it is,' Acuil said, steady and composed. 'Obviously, it hurt in that moment, but over time, you heal and move on. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be.' This year, he's not chasing ghosts. There's no weight of redemption, just a calm focus and a renewed sense of freedom. 'I'm not putting too much pressure on winning,' he added. 'I'm just trying to enjoy the League as much as I can.' Acuil has also seen how far the league has come, and where it's headed. 'Yes, 100%,' Acuil said when asked if the league is earning international respect. 'The only thing that's tough for the BAL is the timing of the tournament. But as far as the players, the calibre is getting better every year.' Still, he remains pragmatic about the league's hurdles. 'With players in Europe and other places, it's hard to bring the best of the best here because of the scheduling,' he noted. 'But it's definitely growing.' Despite all the buzz and Al Ittihad's unbeaten streak, Acuil remains remarkably unfazed by the idea of pressure. 'Pressure has always felt like an illusion to me,' he said. 'It's something that comes from outside, from what people say. We just go out there and play basketball. If we win, we win. If we don't, we don't. It's really that simple.' For Acuil, pressure isn't about buzzer-beaters or championship moments. It's something far heavier, and far beyond the court. 'Pressure is people out in the world who can't feed their kids, or those battling illness, cancer, that's real pressure. Basketball is a privilege.' That perspective, forged through experience and gratitude, keeps him grounded when the stakes feel highest. He doesn't just play to win, he plays to stay present. 'You win the game, you lose the game, it doesn't change who I am, or who the coach is. Pressure is nothing. This is not pressure.' That same clarity has helped Acuil remain grounded and draw back from past experiences to help guide his team when it matters most, like in Al Ittihad's overtime thriller against Morocco's FUS de Rabat, a game riddled with tension, lead changes, and late-game chaos. 'Personally, the growth comes from just being as present as possible,' Acuil reflected. 'Shutting the noise out, figuring out the next play, finding ways to be effective.' Even after a mental lapse late in regulation which led to FUS Rabat's Nisre Zouzoua scoring the equalising three-pointer that sent the game into overtime and the crowd into a frenzy, Acuil managed to reset. 'At the end of the fourth, I had a mental lapse,' he admitted. 'Going into overtime, it was just about reassuring our rules, making sure there were no more slip-ups.' That accountability set the tone. With a narrow lead in OT, execution became everything for the team who secured a hard-fought 86-83 win. 'Closing the game out, the coach did a good job communicating with us. We were up three, so we just wanted to play the foul game and kill the time that way.' What began as a simple wish to share the floor one more time with his brother Majok Deng has turned into something much bigger. With Al Ittihad now through to the semi-finals and firmly in the title conversation, it's natural to wonder, could this be Acuil's final chapter? A championship would be a fitting sendoff. But Acuil isn't thinking about endings just yet. 'I don't know,' he said with a smirk. 'We'll cross that bridge when we get there. But I don't think it's time to write me off. I'm here, so we'll see what happens.'
Zawya
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Zawya
2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Playoffs - APR (Rwanda) and US Monastir (Tunisia) Secure Wins in Pretoria, BAL Playoffs Set
The second day of the BAL ( Playoffs in Pretoria tipped off with defending champions Petro de Luanda (Angola) taking on APR (Rwanda), with APR coming out on top in a 75-57 win. APR's Aliou Diarra led all scorers with 19 points, along with 14 rebounds. Nuni Omot also poured in 15 points, along with six boards. Petro de Luanda's Patrick Gardner scored a team-high 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. In the second seeding game of the night, 2022 BAL champions US Monastir (Tunisia) faced off against last year's semifinalists, Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria). US Monastir emerged victorious, led by an explosive performance from former NBA Academy Africa student athlete Babacar Sane, who scored 22 points. Patrick Hardy Jr. contributed 17 points and 9 assists. Despite the loss, Rivers Hoopers' Raphael Putney delivered a game-high 28 points. Quarterfinals Set Today's games set up two remaining quarterfinals on Monday – APR vs. Rivers Hoopers, and US Monastir vs. Petro de Luanda. Tomorrow's games feature two win-or-go-home quarterfinal matchups as Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya) takes on Kriol Star (Cape Verde) at 4 p.m. before Al Ittihad (Egypt) faces FUS Rabat (Morocco) at 7 p.m. CAT. The 2025 Basketball Africa League season is reaching fans in 214 countries and territories in 17 languages through free-to-air and paid TV broadcast partnerships, including on Canal+, ESPN, FIBA's digital platform Courtside 1891 and livestreaming on the NBA App ( and the BAL's YouTube ( channel. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Zawya
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Zawya
2025 Basketball Africa League Playoffs - Kriol Star (Cape Verde) and Al Ittihad (Egypt) Open Basketball Africa League Playoffs with Victories in Pretoria
The Basketball Africa League (BAL) ( Playoffs are officially underway at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, tipping off in thrilling fashion as Kriol Star (Cape Verde) edged FUS Rabat Basketball (Morocco) in a 91–88 nail-biter. Joel Ntambwe led Kriol Star with a team-high 22 points, while Ivan Almeida posted a triple-double with 18 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds. Jalan McCloud also added 21 points. For FUS Rabat, Yacine Baeri delivered a team-high 22 points, shooting an impressive 7-of-8 from three-point range. The second game of the night featured a clash of titans between two undefeated teams, Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya) and Al Ittihad (Egypt), with Al Ittihad emerging victorious in an 85-74 win. Majok Deng led the charge with 19 points, while Lual Acuil posted a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds. For Al Ahli Tripoli, Fabian White Jr. delivered a game-high 24 points along with 10 rebounds. Jean Jacques Boissy and Naseim Badrush also contributed with 17 and 16 points, respectively. Tonight's seeding games set up the win-or-go-home quarterfinal matchups on Sunday – Al Ahli Tripoli will take on Kriol Star at 4 p.m. and Al Ittihad will face FUS Rabat at 7 p.m. CAT. Tomorrow's seeding games will feature the defending champion Petro de Luanda (Angola) taking on APR (Rwanda) at 4 p.m. and 2022 BAL champion US Monastir (Tunisia) facing last year's semifinalist Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria) at 7 p.m. CAT. The 2025 Basketball Africa League season is reaching fans in 214 countries and territories in 17 languages through free-to-air and paid TV broadcast partnerships, including on Canal+, ESPN, FIBA's digital platform Courtside 1891 and livestreaming on the NBA App ( ( ( and the BAL's YouTube ( channel. PRESS CONFERENCES Opening Press Conference ( NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi, BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall and FIBA Africa President Anibal Manave Postgame Kriol Star vs FUS Rabat (coaches and players) ( Al Ahli vs Al Ittihad (coaches and players) ( Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Zawya
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Zawya
US Monastir, Petro de Luanda and Kriol Star Advance to the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Playoffs in South Africa
Anderson Correia got 16 points and five rebounds, Ivan Almeida added 14 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists and Basketball Africa League (BAL) ( debutant Kriol Star (Cape Verde) defeated the defending champion Petro de Luanda (Angola) 71-69 in overtime, booking their spot to the 2025 BAL Playoffs which will take place at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa from 6-14 June. NBA Academy Africa prospect Lewis Uvwo played 40 minutes and finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks. The Star outrebounded Petro 52-43, but also finished with 28 turnovers. Glofate Buiamba led Petro with 16 points, with Aboubacar Gakou adding 15 points and seven rebounds. With 3 wins and 3 losses, both teams qualified to the BAL Playoffs in Pretoria – Petro finished second and the Star finished third in the Sahara Conference. In the second game this evening, Osiris Eldridge (22 points and four assists) and former NBA Academy Africa prospect Babacar Sane (13 points and 12 rebounds) led the 2022 BAL champion US Monastir (Tunisia) to a 77-68 win over ASC Ville de Dakar (Senegal). The win gave Monastir (4-2) the top place in the Sahara Conference and an automatic qualification to the playoffs. Monastir shot 43 percent from the floor and outrebounded Dakar 45-39. Will Perry led Dakar with 20 points and seven assists and Makhtar Gueye added 18 points as the host team concluded their 2025 BAL campaign. More than 47,000 fans attended the Sahara Conference games at Dakar Arena in Senegal. The 2025 BAL season will continue with the Nile Conference group phase which will be held from 17-25 May at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. The Nile Conference will feature four teams: Made By Basketball (MBB, South Africa), Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya), Nairobi City Thunder (Kenya) and Armée Patriotique Rwandaise Basketball (APR, Rwanda). The top two teams from the Nile Conference and a team with a better record between FUS Rabat (Morocco, Kalahari Conference) and the team which will finish third in the Nile Conference will join Al Ittihad (Egypt), Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria), US Monastir, Petro de Luanda and Kriol Star in the 2025 BAL Playoffs in South Africa. Postgame media availability: Kriol Star v Petro de Luanda ( US Monastir v ASC Ville de Dakar ( Standings: Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).
