Debutants Al Ahli Tripoli are set to take on Angola’s Petro de Luanda in the BAL season 5 final on Saturday.
Oliver Ochieng
Angolan basketball heavyweights Petro de Luanda will meet Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) season 5 final at the Sunbeat Arena in Pretoria, South Africa on Saturday (June 14).
Petro de Luanda reached the third final in five seasons after ending Egyptian giants Al Ittihad Alexandria’s unbeaten run in the competition, with an emphatic 96-74 win in the second semi final on Wednesday night.
Patrick Gardner sank a three-pointer to tie the game at 8-8 after Al Ittihad had raced into an 8-5 lead courtesy of Jo Lual Acuil’s efforts, before Rigoberto Mendoza scored a layup to give Petro de Luanda a well-deserved 10-8 lead.
From there, the Egyptians never recovered to trouble the defending champions.
Gardner, speaking post-match, said their 75-57 defeat against Rwanda’s APR earlier in the competition motivated them to up their game.
Sacrifice, he added, has been their mantra throughout the competition which is being hosted by South Africa for the first time.
“The biggest word we use as a team is sacrifice. Everyone has done their job well. It’s great to come out with two wins,” Gardner said post-match, speaking to bal.nba.com.
Al Ittihad Alexandria’s guard Youssef Shehata said they lost the game when they allowed Petro de Luanda to turn the tables, and take a lead.
“We really hoped to finish undefeated and be the first team to do so. It didn’t work out, but I’m proud of my teammates and how we stuck together until the end.”
Earlier, debutants Al Ahli Tripoli reached the final after emerging 84-71 winners against Rwanda’s APR, with the major assignment ahead now being winning the title on Saturday.
Fabian White Jr. literally carried the Libyans on his shoulders, finishing the game with a high of 23 points, Caleb Agada contributed 17 points while Jaylen Adams and Mohamed Sadi managed 13 points each respectively.
Nuni Omot scored 22 points for APR, while Chasson Randle, Obadiah Noel and Aliou Diarra managed 13 each.
Petro de Luanda beat Tunisian side US Monastir 95-84, APR outscored Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers 104–73, Al Ittihad defeated Morocco’s FUS Rabat 86-83 while Al Ahli Tripoli overcame Cape Verdean side, Kriol Star 107-81 enroute to the semis.
Al Ahli Tripoli becomes the second Libyan team to book a final slot in a row, after Al Ahli Ly finished second last season.
Al Ittihad will face APR in the third playoff match on Friday, before Petro de Luanda takes on Al Ahli Tripoli in the final a day later.
