Latest news with #MadeByBall
Mail & Guardian
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Mail & Guardian
BAL taking flight in fifth season
Unbeaten: Al Ahli Tripoli from Libya, pictured versus Kriol Stars, became the second Libyan team to make it to the BAL final. They face Angola's Petro de Luanda on Saturday. Photo: Julien Bacot: BAL/Getty Images The fifth year of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) may be the charm for the continent's premier men's basketball tournament. After battling Covid-19 disruptions when it was supposed to By some strange twist in convention, this year Pretoria managed to pry the playoffs and finals from Kigali's clutches — an unprecedented move given how much sway Rwanda appears to have in the league's runnings. All four playoffs and finals have been played in East Africa's swanky BK Arena. Yet, as fledgling a basketball nation as it may be, South Africa seems to have made quite an impression when it finally got to get in on the action by hosting the Kalahari Conference in March last year. Our signature vibes — punctuated by schoolboy war cries and amapiano performances — may have been what sold the powers that be. That, and of course, having a team to root for in the since-derailed But no such luck this year. The Tigers are nowhere in sight and our new representatives, Made By Ball, didn't make the playoffs. Thankfully we do have Southern African Development Community representation in our Angolan brethren, the defending champions Petro de Luanda. Just as well, because they clinched a semifinal spot on Monday by beating Tunisia's US Monastir 95-84. The other semifinal spot went to BAL first-timers Rwanda's Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR), who thrashed last season's third-place winners Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria) 104-73 on Monday as well. These games set us up for Wednesday, when things warmed up in temperature and play as the cold eased off and the semifinals took place. In the afternoon game, a more-than-decent-for-midweek crowd featured Rwandan flags that made it clear that APR was supported. The team's Malian star and the tournament's leading active scorer on average, Aliou Diarra, was expected to have a big game but only managed to score 13 points — the exact amount of points that his team would've needed to win the game as Tripoli beat them 81-74. With their win, Al Ahli Tripoli became just the second Libyan team to make it to the BAL final after going unbeaten in the group stage of play — and in their maiden BAL season, no less. In the evening game, Petro faced the newest Egyptian BAL team in Al Ittihad Alexandria, who had remained untouched in the playoffs. South African fans took to cheering on Samkelo Cele, Petro's Durban-born star, in what felt like the most lively and spirited game of the playoffs. Cele, who earned himself a stint with the New York Knicks' (NBA) Summer League team last July after playing with the Tigers last season, scored 10 points and four rebounds in their dominant 96-74 win. Al Ittihad and APR will vie for the bronze finish when they play in the third-place game on Friday evening – an opportunity for both rookie teams to leave with something. Pretoria's frosty temperatures and the randomness of midweek basketball games notwithstanding, audience turnout grew as the days went, dispelling any concerns of scantness. On Saturday, during seeding games, the music and drums in the arena sounded louder than the crowd. In one section, a few children could be heard cheering 'De-fence!' and screaming gleefully when a player — from any team — made a free throw shot. By the last game of the semis, the crowd had clearly picked a side, with loud chants accompanied by stomps to the beat of 'Lets go, Petro!' So we know who the crowd is likely to cheer for come Saturday's final. Speaking to the Mail & Guardian, Petro's assistant coach Jorge Elorduy preferred not to linger on the team's strong showing. 'We are really happy with the performance, [but] this game is over and we look for[ward to] Saturday. Tripoli's head coach Fouad Abou Chacra was more forthcoming: 'If you look at our stats, you'll see our team is doing eight, nine turnovers a game. Plus, we are doing like, 18, 19 assists a game. These are signs for a champion. And we will do anything to win it. Because we have quality players, we have determination and the will. Inshallah, God will give us this victory. Forty more minutes.' And, yes, we all know which region tends to hold the cards when we get this deep into the season. But last season's Petro win may have been the first of many non-North African titles, too — and a back-to-back win for the Angolans.
News24
01-06-2025
- Business
- News24
From stars on the court to Casper Nyovest vibes: Basketball Africa League frenzy set to hit Pretoria
The Basketball Africa League is celebrating its fifth season. The event in Pretoria next weekend will be the first time that the finals are contested outside Rwanda. SA's Samkelo Cele will turn out for defending champions Petro de Luanda of Angola. South Africans should not despair at not having a representative in this season's Basketball Africa League (BAL) play-offs. In an interview with City Press this week, BAL president Amadou Gallo Fall advised the local basketball community to self-introspect instead. The BAL, the equivalent of football's Champions League, will see eight clubs, four from North Africa, contesting for a place in the final in Pretoria from 6 to 14 June. SA was represented by Made By Ball, simply known as MBB, but the Johannesburg-based outfit did not advance beyond the group phase. MBB entered the tournament as a wild card after SA multi-champions Cape Town Tigers were prevented by internal problems from participating in this year's tournament. The Tigers were the first local team to reach the BAL semi-finals. The line-up The teams that have qualified for the event at the Sunbet Arena are: Petro de Luanda (Angola) Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria) APR (Rwanda) Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya) Al Ittihad Alexandria (Egypt) US Monastir (Tunisia) Kriol Star (Cape Verde) FUS Rabat (Morocco) Fall was full of praise for MBB, who, on their debut in the BAL, won two of their six matches. They finished third in the Nile Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, where Libyan side Al Ahli and ARP of Rwanda progressed as the top two sides last weekend. I think, anytime you host a competition, yes, you want to have a home team represented, but, at the end of the day, it's a competition and they narrowly missed out. BAL president Amadou Fall He added: 'MBB fought hard. They have a lot to be proud of. I've seen them in all the months since they qualified transform themselves into a professional outfit. I think that they have something to build on. I encourage the basketball community in SA to do some serious introspection because the game is very popular in the country. Amadou Fall 'I see a lot of young people getting into it. Now, with an opportunity to play in this league, I think there's a level of organisation. The [organisation] needs to take place beyond just these teams, but at federation level, at the ministry, just to realise that there is an opportunity for the country to do some big things with this league and with this game in general. 'I'm pretty sure the fans are still going to be coming to Sunbet Arena because the competition is going to be incredible.' Mzansi will still be represented on the court For those heading to Pretoria, they can look out for Samkelo Cele, who is turning out for defending champions Petro de Luanda of Angola. The 27-year-old is a former Cape Town Tigers star player. He joined Petro before the start of the BAL tournament after stints with the NBA Summer League side New York Knicks. Cele also had spells in Burundi and Spain's basketball leagues. Said Fall: 'Samkelo Cele is a player who showcased his talent playing for the Cape Town Tigers last year. I am pretty sure [Cele's] joining Petro de Luanda will also give SA reasons to follow and then come and cheer him because he's going to carry the flag of the country in basketball for years to come. Amadou Fall Added the BAL boss: 'One of the things we are proud of is how this league's showcase is also the best that Africa has to offer.' 'Sold-out games; this is the momentum we're looking forward to' Fall reflected with pride on how the fifth season of BAL had panned out. The 62-year-old administrator, who hails from Senegal and is a former basketball player, was impressed by the attendance across the three qualifying events in Rabat, Morocco (Kalahari Conference in April), Dakar, Senegal (Sahara Conference last month) and Kigali, Rwanda (Nile Conference last weekend). The final day of the Nile Conference had it all: buzzer-beaters, heartbreaks, and wild playoff drama. Catch the last episode of the BAL Daily Show now! 🔥 #BAL5 — Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) May 29, 2025 'We had sold-out games and we've had very passionate fans coming in big numbers. This is the momentum that we are looking forward to seeing in Pretoria when we tip off the finals next weekend.' Fall pointed out that SA has always been a great host of major events, including sports tournaments. As it is the tradition of basketball to have half-time shows, the finals in Pretoria will feature top local artists, leading with rapper Casper Nyovest (whose given name is Refilo Phoolo) on the opening day on 6 June and closing with Maglera Doe Boy (Tokelo Moyakhe) and Focalistic (Lethabo Sebetso), also renowned rappers, on 14 June. South Africa, are you ready?! 🇿🇦 Cassper Nyovest is ready to shut it down once again at the BAL halftime show on June 6 at SunBet Arena! 🔥 This one's gonna be legendary, secure your tickets now at or 🎟 #BAL5 — Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) May 28, 2025 'I cannot stress enough for the public to know that not having a South African team in the playoffs should not stop people who love entertainment from getting their tickets and coming to support this great Pan-African initiative. 'The entertainment and the games on the court are going to be off the chain,' said Fall. Show Comments ()
The Herald
26-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
SA basketball league needs shake up, says Vincent after MBB's early BAL exit
Sport Not enough league matches in a season for players to improve, compared to other countries Premium By ANATHI WULUSHE IN KIGALI - 26 May 2025 Experienced head coach Sam Vincent has bemoaned the current structure of SA's domestic Basketball National League (BNL), saying it needs to change if the country's teams are to be successful on the continent. Vincent, a 1986 NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, was speaking after his Johannesburg-based Made By Ball (MBB) were eliminated from Africa's biggest tournament, the Basketball Africa League, in Rwanda on Sunday...
TimesLIVE
21-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Vincent has flashbacks of legendary Larry Bird in Prinsloo's display against Thunder
Made By Ball (MBB) head coach Sam Vincent says he saw glimpses of his former Boston Celtics teammate and Hall of Famer Larry Bird in Pieter Prinsloo's match-winning performance against Nairobi City Thunder in the Basketball Africa League in Kigali on Tuesday. The Pretoria-born Prinsloo had 30 points and 11 rebounds, while Robinson Odoch-Opong knocked down a three-pointer at the death to help MBB to a 75-74 win in the Nile Conference. 'There were moments when I was having fond NBA flashbacks, because Pieter today [Tuesday], he reminded me of Larry,' Vincent said. 'No disrespect to Larry but some of the shots [Prinsloo] hit on the step-back threes and the low post moves, he was sensational.' Vincent also praised Teafale Lenard Jnr, who scored 20 points, saying he reminded him of another teammate in former Chicago Bulls star Scottie Pippen. Pippen was a crucial member of the Bulls' championship-winning team that featured players such as Michael Jordan, Steve Kerr and Dennis Rodman and dominated the NBA in the 1990s. 'I also had some flashbacks with Teafale and a couple of those monstrous dunks that he had reminded me of Scottie,' Vincent said. Pieter Prinsloo's double-double (30 PTS/11 REB) performance for MBB earned him the @visitrwanda_now Player of the Game mention. #BAL5 — Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) May 20, 2025 He said the adjustment he made by bringing 2.13m tall David Craig into the starting five in place of Nkosi Sibanyoni brought stability in their defence. The win was the Johannesburg-based team's first in the BAL after losing two games at the weekend. 'Getting this win is almost like a full circle,' Vincent said. 'I first came to South Africa in 1999 and got involved with basketball. 'From coaching in South Africa, I got to the NBA and had a chance to coach. 'Having a chance 25 years later to come back and get this win, which is so important for what we're trying to do to get more exposure and promote basketball in South Africa, is important. 'So it's exciting, but more importantly, we have to keep our heads down and keep on working, and that's what we're going to do in the next few games.' The win was influential in boosting MBB's chances for the playoffs in Pretoria. The South African team have to win one game with a superior points difference or two games, depending on how other matches play out in the conference, to comfortably claim the last wild card spot. That berth is now occupied by FUS Rabat of Morocco, who have won two games but have a -19 points difference. MBB will next play Rwanda's Armée Patriotique at the same venue on Thursday.
TimesLIVE
18-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Joburg's MBB blow lead in BAL showdown against APR in Kigali
Johannesburg's Made By Ball (MBB) were left kicking themselves after they blew a first-half lead of 47-45 and ended up losing 103-81 to Armée Patriotique Rwandaise in the Basketball Africa League at the BK Arena in Kigali in Rwanda on Sunday evening. This was MBB's second loss in Africa's biggest basketball competition. Though there is still a week and four games to be played in the Nile Conference, they are now under pressure to deliver a win in the game on Tuesday against Nairobi City Thunder if they are to return to SA having qualified for the playoffs. City Thunder have problems of their own as they have lost their opening two games with 20-plus margins. Apart from international import Teafale Lenard Jr's 20 points, Jovan Mooring's 17 and Pieter Prinsloo's 13, none of the other MBB players made it past double figures against APR. This is no doubt something that will be on top of the agenda for MBB's head coach Sam Vincent.
