Petro de Luanda Clinches 2024 Basketball Africa League Title in Kigali

The 4th edition of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) concluded on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, with Petro de Luanda from Angola emerging champions. They defeated Al Ahly Ly from Libya with a score of 107-94 in a thrilling final.

This victory marks Petro de Luanda's first continental title since their 2015 FIBA Africa Champions Cup win. The Angolan team overcame a 12-point halftime deficit, trailing 52-40, to secure the win. Nicholas Faust led the team with 24 points, while Markeith Cummings and Cleusio Castro added 20 and 10 points, respectively.

Jo-Lual Acuil Jr. from Al Ahly Ly finished with 15 points and was named the 2024 BAL MVP, joining the ranks of South Sudanese players who have received this prestigious award. Al Ahly Ly's strong performance throughout the postseason, including a three-game winning streak, was not enough to overcome Petro de Luanda's resilience.

Petro de Luanda's bench players were instrumental in the win, outscoring Al Ahly Ly's bench 51-27. The team's dominance on the boards was also a key factor, as they outrebounded their opponents 48-32. The Angolan champions executed an 11-0 run in the third quarter, seizing a commanding double-digit lead.

Lukeny Goncalves, who contributed 16 points, emphasized the crucial role of Cleusio Castro in neutralizing Al Ahly Ly's key players. *"Everyone on the team knew that Cleusio would be the difference-maker in this game because of his hardworking attitude,"* Goncalves said. *"He was really aggressive on both ends of the floor and managed to neutralize number 41 (Jo-Lual Acuil Jr). "*

Reflecting on their path, Goncalves highlighted Petro de Luanda's determination to learn from past experiences, citing their defeat to AS Douanes in the 2023 BAL Semifinals as a valuable lesson. *"We came ready to fight. At halftime break we looked at each other in the eyes and pledged that this was our turn to win the BAL trophy. When they showed signs of fatigue in the third quarter we stepped up our aggressiveness even further. That's how we won the game,"* Goncalves noted.

Petro de Luanda finished the BAL campaign with a record of 5-3, while Al Ahly concluded with a record of 6-4. The win grants Petro de Luanda the opportunity to represent Africa at the upcoming FIBA InterContinental Cup in Singapore next September.

Rivers Hoopers from Nigeria secured third place in the 2024 BAL season with a commanding 80-57 victory over Cape Town Tigers from South Africa. Rivers Hoopers' coach Ogoh Odaudu was named 2024 BAL Coach of the Year, and key players Kelvin Amayo and Devine Eke combined for 45 points.

The BAL Championship took place at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, reaching fans in 214 countries and territories in 17 languages. Several former NBA players attended the games, including BAL Ambassadors and NBA Africa investors Luol Deng, Ian Mahinmi, and Joakim Noah.

Petro de Luanda's triumph in the 2024 BAL Championship not only marks a significant achievement for the team but also highlights the growing prominence of African basketball on the global stage. As they prepare to represent Africa at the FIBA InterContinental Cup, Petro de Luanda's victory serves as a demonstration of their resilience and determination.

Key Takeaways

• Petro de Luanda wins 2024 BAL Championship, defeating Al Ahly Ly 107-94.
• Nicholas Faust leads Petro de Luanda with 24 points, Markeith Cummings adds 20.
• Jo-Lual Acuil Jr. named 2024 BAL MVP with 15 points for Al Ahly Ly.
• Petro de Luanda to represent Africa at FIBA InterContinental Cup in Singapore.
• Rivers Hoopers secure third place with 80-57 win over Cape Town Tigers.