2023 BAL playoffs#Semifinals

On 16 March 2023, the BAL incorrectly reported that REG became the first team to qualify for the playoffs.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-17 |title=How REG secured the first 2023 BAL Playoffs spot |url=https://bal.nba.com/news/how-reg-secured-the-first-2023-bal-playoffs-spot |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=The BAL |language=en}} US Monastir and ABC Fighters were also reported to have qualified on 20 March.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-20 |title=Bile’s heroics send ABC to playoffs |url=https://bal.nba.com/news/biles-heroics-send-abc-to-playoffs |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=The BAL |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-21 |title=Randle, Thomas lead Monastir to playoffs |url=https://bal.nba.com/news/randle-thomas-lead-monastir-to-playoffs |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=The BAL |language=en}} However, only on the last day of the Sahara Conference, the final ranking was determined and the four advancing teams were decided based on their head-to-head point difference. Petro de Luanda was the first team from the Nile Conference to qualify.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-03 |title=Petro de Luanda become first Nile Conference team to qualify for the Playoffs |url=https://bal.nba.com/news/petro-de-luanda-become-first-nile-conference-to-qualify-for-the-playoffs |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=The BAL |language=en}}

This was the second competitive game between the teams, who last met in the third round of Group C of the 2018–19 Africa Basketball League when Al Ahly won.{{Cite web |title=REG BBC v Al Ahly boxscore - FIBA Africa Basketball League 2019 - 10 February |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/africaleague/2019/game/1002/REG-BBC-Al-Ahly |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=FIBA.basketball |language=en}}

After taking a 8–5 lead, REG trailed in the rest of the game to the Egyptian champions Al Ahly. During the third quarter, Al Ahly led by as much as 23 points. Adonis Filer scored a game-high 26 points for REG, while Ehab Amin scored 22 points for the Egyptians.{{Cite web |title=SUPERB AMIN, WEBSTER KEY IN AL AHLY'S SEMI-FINALS SLOT |url=https://bal.nba.com/news/superb-amin-webster-key-in-al-ahlys-semi-final-slot |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=The BAL |language=en}}{{Basketballbox|date=21 May 2023|place=BK Arena, Kigali|teamA=Al Ahly {{flagicon|EGY}}|teamB={{flagicon|RWA}} REG|id=G31|time=16:00|report=[https://bal.nba.com/schedule?&WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F35460%2Fmatch%2F2271134%2Fpreview%3F Report]
[https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BAL/2271134/ Livestats]|scoreA=94|scoreB=77|Q1=23–18|Q2=23–14|Q3=21–21|Q4=27–24|points1=Amin 22|rebounds1=Amin, Fakuade 6|assist1=Amin 4|rebounds2=Kambuy Manga 6|points2=Filer 26|assist2=Filer 9|attendance=6,423|referee=Marcy Williams, Kalume Tonton Banza, Mbaye Seye}}

This was the first competitive game between the two teams.

The Tigers were forced to play without Zaire Wade and Evans Ganapamo, who suffered from injuries. Stade Malien never trailed throughout the game, as they had already built a sixteen point advantage after the first quarter. Import player John Wilkins scored 16 points in the opening quarter. During the third quarter, Stade Malien led by as much as 22 points, but this lead was cut to just two with 41 seconds left on the clock. After this point, the Tigers turned over the ball three times, which were conversed to six points by Malien. Aliou Diarra had a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds, his sixth double-double in six BAL games. For the Tigers, it was their second consecutive elimination in the quarterfinals.{{Cite web |title=DIARRA’S SIXTH DOUBLE-DOUBLE STEERS STADE MALIEN INTO SEMI-FINALS |url=https://bal.nba.com/news/diarras-sixth-double-double-steers-stade-malien-into-semi-finals |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=The BAL |language=en}}{{Basketballbox|date=21 May 2023|place=BK Arena, Kigali|teamA=Stade Malien {{flagicon|MLI}}|teamB={{flagicon|RSA}} Cape Town Tigers|id=G32|time=19:00|bg=|report=[https://bal.nba.com/schedule?&WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F35460%2Fmatch%2F2271133%2Fpreview%3F Report]|scoreA=78|scoreB=69|Q1=31–15|Q2=17–15|Q3=16–22|Q4=14–17|points1=Diarra, Wilkins 18|rebounds1=Diarra 13|assist1=Foster 7|points2=Prinsloo 19|assist2=Gbinije 5|rebounds2=Gbinije 13|attendance=3,632|referee=Hortencia Sanchez-Carrizales, Jean Sauveur Ruhamiriza, Leslie Cherubin}}

This was the first competitive game between the two teams. AS Douanes defeated Ferroviário to seal its first semi-final appearance.{{Basketballbox|date=22 May 2023|place=BK Arena, Kigali|teamA=AS Douanes {{flagicon|SEN}} |teamB={{flagicon|MOZ}} Ferroviário da Beira|id=G33|time=17:00|report=[https://bal.nba.com/schedule?&WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F35460%2Fmatch%2F2271135%2Fpreview%3F Report]
[https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BAL/2271135/bs.html Livestats]|scoreA=93|scoreB=73|attendance=2,240|Q1=28–23|Q2=24–14|Q3=19–15|Q4=22–21|points1=Fall 23|assist1=Ndour 8|rebounds1=Bryan-Amaning 11|points2=Gueye 19|rebounds2=Gueye 9|assist2=Perry 8|referee=JD Ralls, Banza Kalume, Sara Elsharnouby}}

This was the first competitive game in the BAL between the two teams, and the third meeting ever. They met twice in the FIBA Africa Club Champions Cup, in the semi-final of the 2005 and in the group stage of the 2007.{{Basketballbox|date=22 May 2023|place=BK Arena, Kigali|teamA=Petro de Luanda {{flagicon|ANG}}|teamB={{flagicon|CIV}} ABC Fighters|id=G34|time=20:30|bg=|report=[https://bal.nba.com/schedule?&WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F35460%2Fmatch%2F2271136%2Fpreview%3F Report]
[https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BAL/2271136/ Livestats]|scoreA=88|scoreB=84|Q1=23–16|Q2=18–25|Q3=23–22|Q4=24–21|points1=Morais 18|rebounds1=Pedro 8|assist1=Diabate 5|points2=Abada 21|rebounds2=Three players 3|assist2=Abada 8|referee=Klyde Mulla, Yann Vezo Davidson, Mbaye Seye}}

AS Douanes won the semi-final against Petro de Luanda, to become the first Senegalese team to reach the BAL final. Jean Jacques Boissy had 28 points and Chris Crawford scored 26. The Douanes led the majority of the game and won their fifth straight BAL game, after losing their two opening games in the Sahara Conference.

The win for Douanes was widely seen as a "shock" as unbeaten Petro de Luanda were considered the title favourites.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-25 |title=AS DOUANES SHOCK PETRO DE LUANDA, ADVANCE TO FINAL |url=https://bal.nba.com/news/as-douanes-shock-petro-de-luanda-advance-to-final |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=The BAL |language=en}}{{Basketballbox|date=24 May 2023|place=BK Arena, Kigali|teamA=Petro de Luanda {{flagicon|ANG}} |teamB={{flagicon|SEN}} AS Douanes|id=G36|time=17:00|attendance=4,554|report=[https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BAL/2271137/ Livestats]|scoreA=86|scoreB=92|Q1=19–20|Q2=26–29|Q3=18–20|Q4=23–23|points1=Hollis 19|rebounds1=Pedro 8|assist1=Pedro 6|points2=Boissy 28|rebounds2=Crawford 7|assist2=Ndour 5|referee=Marcy Williams, Jean Sauveur Ruhamiriza, Mbaye Seye}}

Al Ahly became the second Egyptian team to advance to the BAL Final, despite trailing by five at the half to Stade Malien. Ehab Amin led the Red Devils with a game-high 21 points. Stade Malien's Aliou Diarra recorded his sixth straight double-double, but was fouled out two minutes before the end of the game.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-25 |title=AL AHLY BECOME SECOND EGYPTIAN TEAM TO REACH THE BAL FINAL |url=https://bal.nba.com/news/al-ahly-become-second-egyptian-team-to-reach-the-bal-final |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=The BAL |language=en}}{{Basketballbox|date=24 May 2023|place=BK Arena, Kigali| teamA=Stade Malien {{flagicon|MLI}} |teamB={{flagicon|EGY}} Al Ahly||id=G36|time=20:30|attendance=6,102|report=[https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BAL/2271141/ Livestats]|scoreB=78|scoreA=73|Q1=17–17|Q2=21–16|Q3=15–25|Q4=20–20|points1=Amayo 15|rebounds1=Diarra 11|assist1=Foster 6|points2=Amin 21|rebounds2=Amin 6|assist2=Thompson 4|referee=Klyde Mulla, Jean Sauveur Ruhamiriza, Annie Joyce Muchenu}}

Petro de Luanda played in its second third place game, having won the game in 2021. Stade Malien finished their surprising season by claiming the third place after pushing away from Petro in the final minutes of the game. Aliou Diarra had 25 points and 12 rebounds, his seventh double-double in as many games.{{Basketballbox|date=26 May 2023|place=BK Arena, Kigali|teamA=Petro de Luanda {{flagicon|ANG}}|teamB={{flagicon|MLI}} Stade Malien|id=G37|time=18:00|report=[https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BAL/2271142/ Livestats]|scoreA=65|scoreB=73|Q1=15–20|Q2=19–16|Q3=20–14|Q4=11–23|points1=Morais 15|rebounds1=Morais 9|assist1=Morais, Diabate 4|points2=Diarra 25|rebounds2=Diarra 12|assist2=Three players 5|referee=Hortensia Sanchez-Carrizales, Marie Leslie Cherubin, Mbaye Seye|bg=#e7cfae}}

{{Main article|2023 BAL Final}}

{{Basketballbox|date=27 May 2023|place=BK Arena, Kigali|teamA=Al Ahly {{flagicon|EGY}}|teamB={{flagicon|SEN}} AS Douanes|id=G38|time=18:00|bg=#ffffd0|report=[https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BAL/2271143/ Livestats]|scoreA=80|scoreB=65|Q1=17–10|Q2=21–23|Q3=25–13|Q4=17–19|H1=38–33|H2=42–32|points1=Omot 22|rebounds1=Fakuade 10|assist1=Seif 4|points2=Boissy 20|rebounds2=Ochereobia 9|assist2=Ndour 4|attendance=7,532|referee=JD Ralls, Yann Vezo Davidson, Arnold Moseya}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Basketball Africa League}}{{2023 BAL season}}

Playoffs

BAL