2025 BAL final
{{Short description|The final of the 2025 season of the Basketball Africa League}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox basketball game|game_name=2025 BAL final|image=2025 BAL final promo.jpeg|caption=Promotional material for the final|event=2025 BAL season|team1=Al Ahli Tripoli|team1association={{fbaicon|LBY|size=30px}}|score1=88|team2=Petro de Luanda|team2association={{fbaicon|ANG|size=30px}}|score2=67|team1_coach=Fouad Abou Chakra|team2_coach=Sergio Valdeolmillos|team1_record=8–1|team2_record=5–4|visitor_per1=27|visitor_per2=16|visitor_per3=23|visitor_per4=22|visitor_OT=|visitor_OT2=|visitor_OT3=|home_per1=19|home_per2=19|home_per3=16|home_per4=13|home_OT=|home_OT2=|home_OT3=|date=14 June 2025|officials=Julian Scott, Yann Vezo Davidson, Annie Joyce Muchenu|arena=SunBet Arena|city=Pretoria, South Africa|MVP=|MVP_link=BAL Most Valuable Player|attendance=6,853|previous=2024|next=2026|halftime=|odds=Al Ahli Tripoli (1.39 decimal odds)}}
The 2025 BAL final was the championship game of the 2025 BAL season, the third season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and the conclusion of the playoffs. The final was played on 14 June 2025 at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, which was the venue for the first time. The final was contested by Angolan club Petro de Luanda and Libyan club Al Ahli Tripoli.
Al Ahli Tripoli won the final, defeating the defending champions Petro, 88–67, becoming the first Libyan team to win the title, as well as the first team that qualified through the Road to BAL to win the league. As winners, Al Ahli qualified for the 2025 FIBA Intercontinental Cup.
Background
Al Ahly Ly guard Solo Diabate played a in a record-extending fourth final, and had the chance to become the first player to win three BAL championships. Al Ahli Tripoli was favored by betmakers ahead of the final.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=BAL Betting Odds & Fixtures, Basketball Africa {{!}} Odds Portal |url=https://www.oddsportal.com/basketball/africa/bal/ |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=Oddsportal.com |language=en}}
=Previous finals=
In the following table, finals played in the FIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup (ACC), the previous highest level continental competition, are in small text.
| class="wikitable"
!Team !Previous final appearances (bold indicates winners) |
| {{fbaicon|ANG}} Petro de Luanda
|BAL: 2 (2022, 2024) |
| {{Flagicon|LBY}} Al Ahly Tripoli
|None |
Road to the final
{{Further|2025 BAL season}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| colspan="2"|{{Flagicon|LBY}} Al Ahli Tripoli
!Round !colspan="2"|{{Flagicon|ANG}} Petro de Luanda |
|---|
| style="background:#C1E0FF"
|Opponent |Result |Conference phase |Opponent |Result |
| colspan="2" align="center"| Nile Conference {{2025 BAL tables|Nile Conference|only_pld_pts=yes|showteam=AHT|show_matches=no}} |Standings | colspan="2" align="center"| Sahara Conference {{2025 BAL tables|Sahara Conference|only_pld_pts=yes|showteam=APL|show_matches=no}} |
| style="text-align:left" |{{Flagicon|RSA}} MBB
|W 87–77 | style="background:#C1E0FF" |Matchday 1 | style="text-align:left" |{{Flagicon|CPV}} Kriol Star | W 103–74 |
| style="text-align:left" |{{Flagicon|KEN}} Nairobi City Thunder
| W 115–87 | style="background:#C1E0FF" |Matchday 2 | style="text-align:left" |{{Flagicon|TUN}} US Monastir | L 73–87 |
| style="text-align:left" |{{Flagicon|RWA}} APR
| W 90–68 | style="background:#C1E0FF" |Matchday 3 | style="text-align:left" |{{Flagicon|SEN}} ASC Ville de Dakar | L 64–65 |
| style="text-align:left" |{{Flagicon|KEN}} Nairobi City Thunder
| W 104–91 | style="background:#C1E0FF" |Matchday 4 | style="text-align:left" |{{Flagicon|TUN}} US Monastir | W 78–68 |
| style="text-align:left" |{{Flagicon|RWA}} APR
|W 106–102 | style="background:#C1E0FF" |Matchday 5 |style="text-align:left" | {{Flagicon|SEN}} ASC Ville de Dakar | W 76–67 |
| style="text-align:left" |{{Flagicon|RSA}} MBB
|W 102–73 | style="background:#C1E0FF" |Matchday 6 | style="text-align:left" |{{Flagicon|CPV}} Kriol Star | L 69–71 (OT) |
| style="background:#C1E0FF"
|Opponent |Agg. |Playoffs |Opponent |Agg. |
| style="text-align:left" |{{Flagicon|EGY}} Al Ittihad Alexandria
| L 74–85 | style="background:#C1E0FF" |Seeding game |style="text-align:left" |{{Flagicon|RWA}} APR | L 57–75 |
| style="text-align:left" |{{Flagicon|CPV}} Kriol Star
| W 107–81 | style="background:#C1E0FF" |Quarterfinals | style="text-align:left" |{{Flagicon|TUN}} US Monastir | W 95–84 |
| style="text-align:left" |{{Flagicon|RWA}} APR
| W 84–71 | style="background:#C1E0FF" |Semifinals | style="text-align:left" |{{Flagicon|EGY}} Al Ittihad Alexandria | W 96–74 |
=Petro de Luanda=
{{See also|2024–25 Petro de Luanda basketball season}}
File:Aboubakar_Gakou.jpg led Petro to another treble and won his third Angolan League MVP award]]
After the successful previous season, veteran Jone Pedro left the club (after 5 years), along with Gerson Gonçalves (after 9 years), who signed a contract in France.{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-07-16 |title=Gerson Gonçalves est Savoyard ! |url=https://www.amsb.pro/post/gerson-gon%C3%A7alves-est-savoyard |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=AMSB |language=fr}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-07-16 |title=Gerson Gonçalves est Savoyard ! |url=https://www.amsb.pro/post/gerson-gon%C3%A7alves-est-savoyard |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=AMSB |language=fr}} The team reinforced themselves with Solo Diabate, who returned after one season in Libya, and Patrick Gardner. The season began with the Supertaça de Angola on November 24, 2024; Petro won the cup for an eleventh time after easily defeating Interclube in the game.{{Cite Instagram |postid=DCtlGD0p7jc |user=fab_angola_oficial |title=🏀 PETRO VENCE A SUPERTAÇA VLADIMIRO ROMERO 🏆 [..] |author=Angolan Basketball Federation |date=2024-11-24}}
In January 2025, Carlos Morais left the team after 22 seasons with Petro, when he signed with Interclube.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-31 |title=More than 20 years later, Carlos Morais says ‘goodbye’ to Petro and starts wearing the Interclube shirt |url=https://www.verangola.net/va/en/012025/Sports/43178/More-than-20-years-later-Carlos-Morais-says-%E2%80%98goodbye%E2%80%99-to-Petro-and-starts-wearing-the-Interclube-shirt.htm |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=VerAngola |language=en}} They also signed Rigoberto Mendoza. Petro was allocated in the Sahara Conference, and thus played the group stage games in Dakar. They finished second behind US Monastir and qualified for the playoffs.
On April 11, Petro won its 15th Taça de Angola (Cup) title after crushing Vila Clotilde in the final game.{{Cite web |last=Vicente |first=Adão |date=2025-04-11 |title=Taça de Angola em basquetebol na galeria tricolor |url=https://petroatletico.co.ao/noticia/114194 |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=Petro de Luanda |language=pt-PT}} With their victory they tied Primeiro de Agosto's record for most cup titles won.{{Cite web |last=Vicente |first=Adão |date=2025-04-11 |title=Taça de Angola em basquetebol na galeria tricolor |url=https://petroatletico.co.ao/noticia/114194 |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=Petro de Luanda |language=pt-PT}} On May 12, 2025, Petro announced the signing of Samkelo Cele to the team.{{Cite web |last=Vicente |first=Adão |date=2025-05-11 |title=PETRO REFORÇA EQUIPA PARA A FASE FINAL DA BAL |url=https://petroatletico.co.ao/noticia/114464 |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=Petro de Luanda |language=pt-PT}} On May 30, 2025, Petro successfully defended its national title by defeating Primeiro de Agosto in the finals in five games.{{Cite web |last=Vicente |first=Adão |date=2025-05-30 |title=Petro Atlético conquista Unitel Basket |url=https://petroatletico.co.ao/noticia/114656 |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=Petro de Luanda |language=pt-PT}}{{Cite web |date=2025-05-30 |title=Basketball: Petro wins and (re)validates national title |url=https://www.verangola.net/va/en/052025/Sports/44595/Basketball-Petro-wins-and-(re)validates-national-title.htm |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=VerAngola |language=en}} It was Petro's eighteenth title, and the sixth consecutive championship. It was the second team to win six straight titles, following Primeiro de Agosto's streak between 2000 and 2005.{{Cite web |last=Angop - Agência Angola Press |title=Petro wins 1º de Agosto and revalidates National… |url=https://angop.ao/en/noticias/desporto/petro-vence-1o-de-agosto-e-revalida-titulo-do-campeonato-nacional |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=angop.ao |language=en}} Aboubakar Gakou was named the Angolan League MVP for a third time.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-30 |title=Basketball: Petro wins and (re)validates national title |url=https://www.verangola.net/va/en/052025/Sports/44595/Basketball-Petro-wins-and-(re)validates-national-title.htm |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=VerAngola |language=en}}
=Al Ahly Tripoli=
{{See also|2024–25 Al Ahli Tripoli basketball season}}
Game
{{Basketballbox collapsible|class=expanded|report=https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BAL/2664476/bs.html|date=14 June 2025|time=16:00|arena=SunBet Arena|location=Pretoria, South Africa|round=|teamA=Al Ahli Tripoli {{flagicon|LBY}}|teamB={{flagicon|ANG}} Petro de Luanda|Q1=27–19|Q2=16–19|Q3=23–16|Q4=22–13|points1=Marei 22|rebounds1=Marei 19|assist1=Adams 7|points2=Gakou 12|rebounds2=Gardner 5|assist2=Dundão 8|attendance=6,853|referee=Julian Scott, Yann Vezo Davidson, Annie Joyce Muchenu|scoreA=88|scoreB=67|bg=#ffffd0}}
| style="width:100%;" |
| valign=top align=right width=33%|
{{Bs game header | p = yes | r = yes | a = yes | colour = #1a7f2e }} {{Bs game player | pos = PG | no = 2 | nat = USA | name = Jaylen Adams | p = 11 | r = 7 | a = 7 }} {{Bs game player | pos = SF | no = 4 | nat = USA | name = Fabian White Jr. | p = 18 | r = 9 | a = 0 }} {{Bs game player | pos = SG | no = 7 | nat = LBY | name = Naseim Badrush | p = 0 | r = 0 | a = 2 }} {{Bs game player | pos = PG | no = 13 | nat = LBY | name = Mohamed Sadi | p = 11 | r = 4 | a = 8 }} {{Bs game player | pos = C | no = 50 | nat = EGY | name = Assem Marei | p = 22 | r = 19 | a = 3 }} {{Bs game mid | p = yes | r = yes | a = yes }} {{Bs game player | pos = PG | no = 5 | nat = SEN | name = Jean Jacques Boissy | p = 12 | r = 1 | a = 2 }} {{Bs game player | pos = SG | no = 10 | nat = NGR | name = Caleb Agada | p = 10 | r = 2 | a = 4 }} {{Bs game player | pos = PG | no = 11 | nat = LBY | name = Bakeer Fellah | p = 0 | r = 0 | a = 0 }} {{Bs game player | pos = C | no = 12 | nat = NGR | name = Emmanuel Onoja | p = 0 | r = 1 | a = 0 }} {{Bs game player | pos = SG | no = 23 | nat = LBY | name = Ahmed Alsawadiq | p = 2 | r = 0 | a = 1 }} {{Bs game player | pos = C | no = 24 | nat = LBY | name = Anees Almansouri | p = 0 | r = 0 | a = 0 }} {{Bs game player | pos = C | no = 34 | nat = LBY | name = Wajdi Dawo | p = 2 | r = 0 | a = 0 }} {{Bs game player | pos = PF | no = 45 | nat = LBY | name = Ali Abd Rahim | p = 0 | r = 0 | a = 0 }} {{Bs game coach | nat = LBN | name = Fouad Abou Chakra }} | style="vertical-align:top; align:center; width:33%;"| {| style="width:100%;" |
| style="width=50%;" |{{Basketball kit
| pattern_b = | pattern_s = _whitebottom | body = ffffff | shorts = ffffff | title = Al Ahli Tripoli }} | | style="width=50%;" |{{Basketball kit | pattern_b = | pattern_s = _whitebottom | body = 181818 | shorts = 181818 | title = Petro de Luanda }} |
{{0}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; margin:auto;" align=center | ||
| Al Ahli Tripoli | rowspan=2 | Statistics{{Cite web |title=LiveStats |url=https://geniussports.com/ |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=geniussports.com}} | Petro de Luanda |
|---|---|---|
| style="background:#1a7f2e;"| | style="background:#f9e131;"| | |
| 23/50 (46%) | 2-pt field goals | 17/37 (45%) |
| 8/28 (28%) | 3-pt field goals | 8/22 (36%) |
| 18/22 (81%) | Free throws | 9/15 (60%) |
| 25 | Offensive rebounds | 8 |
| 29 | Defensive rebounds | 22 |
| 54 | Total rebounds | 30 |
| 19 | Assists | 26 |
| 16 | Turnovers | 18 |
| 12 | Steals | 13 |
| 5 | Blocks | 5 |
| 19 | Fouls | 18 |
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center; margin:auto" |
| style="background: #1d4289 ; color: #fdb826; border: 1px solid #008349;" | 2025 BAL champions |
|---|
| {{flagicon|LBY|size=50px}} Al Ahli Tripoli 1st BAL title; 1st continental title |
| style="vertical-align:top; align:left; width:33%;"|
{{Bs game header | p = yes | r = yes | a = yes | colour = #f9e131 }}
{{Bs game player | pos = PG | nat = ANG | no = 5 | name = Childe Dundão | p = 11 | r = 4 | a = 8 }}
{{Bs game player | pos = SG | nat = DOM | no = 12 | name = Rigoberto Mendoza | p = 10 | r = 2 | a = 3 }}
{{Bs game player | pos = PF | nat = ANG | no = 14 | name = Clésio Castro | p = 6 | r = 1 | a = 1 }}
{{Bs game player | pos = F | nat = ANG | no = 24 | name = Glofate Buiamba | p = 2 | r = 1 | a = 0 }}
{{Bs game player | pos = F | nat = EGY | no = 28 | name = Patrick Gardner | p = 11 | r = 5 | a = 4 }}
{{Bs game mid | p = yes | r = yes | a = yes }}
{{Bs game player | pos = PG | nat = ANG | no = 00 | name = Gerson Domingos | dnp = y }}
{{Bs game player | pos = SG | nat = ANG | no = 1 | name = Eduardo Simão | dnp = y }}
{{Bs game player | pos = C | nat = ANG | no = 2 | name = Yanick Moreira | p = 1 | r = 4 | a = 2 }}
{{Bs game player | pos = SG | nat = USA | no = 7 | name = Kendrick Ray | p = 8 | r = 2 | a = 1 }}
{{Bs game player | pos = PG | nat = CIV | no = 10 | name = Solo Diabate | p = 4 | r = 1 | a = 4 }}
{{Bs game player | pos = SF | nat = NGR | no = 13 | name = Samson Mashebinu | dnp = y }}
{{Bs game player | pos = PF | nat = ANG | no = 15 | name = Aboubacar Gakou | p = 12 | r = 2 | a = 2 }}
{{Bs game player | pos = SG | nat = RSA | no = 23 | name = Samkelo Cele | p = 2 | r = 0 | a = 1 }}
{{Bs game coach | nat = ESP | name = Sergio Valdeolmillos }}
|}
References
{{Al Ahli Tripoli 2025 BAL Champions}}
{{2025 BAL season}}
{{Basketball Africa League}}