(KIGALI) On Wednesday night, the Basketball Africa League (BAL) semi-finals produced two thrilling encounters (Rivers Hoopers vs Al Ahly Benghazi; Cape Town Tigers vs Petro de Luanda), which saw Petro and Al Ahly win in overtime.
In an electrifying match, Petro de Luanda secured a hard-fought 96-86 victory over the Cape Town Tigers in overtime. Both teams played relentlessly, leading to numerous lead changes and a dramatic finish that left fans on the edge of their seats.
The Tigers started strong, leading 16-15 at the end of the first quarter. Both teams demonstrated solid defence and efficient ball movement, keeping the game tight. However, foul trouble for the Tigers in the second quarter allowed Petro to gain a foothold.
With 7:40 left in the second quarter, back-to-back corner threes from Nicholas Faust put Petro up by six points. A turnover followed by an uncontested three extended their lead, making it 28-21 by halftime.
The final quarter was a nail-biter, with the Tigers managing to tie the game at 77-77, thanks to Samkelo Cele’s clutch free throws, forcing the game into overtime. Petro’s resilience and tactical execution were evident as they outscored the Tigers 19-9, sealing their victory.
Petro’s Captain Carlos Morais praised the efforts of guard Samkelo Cele. “I love Samkelo, he is a great competitor, and from the last season, he has been growing and he is playing unbelievably. Coming into this game, the goal was to stop Cele because he is their best scorer and we respect him, I think he is gonna keep growing, he has a bright future.”
Coach Florsheim Ngwenya reflected on his team’s performance throughout the competition. “Congratulations to my guys because this is huge. Being at this stage of the competition gives everyone hope. We have done the impossible – it proves that South Africa has talent. However, how we organize the talent moving forward is important.
Petro will face Al Ahly Libya in the Finals on Saturday, and it’s a match-up that Morais looks forward to. “It’s going to be a battle, Solo Diabate is my good friend but it is gonna be a battle. I will try to not let him get the third one [title] and he will definitely try to stop me from getting my first one [title], but we are going to be ready to compete. I am sure it is going to be a good final.”
In the first semi-final of the day, Al Ahly Libya defeated The Rivers Hoopers 89-83, securing their spot in the finals. Al Ahly started the game strong offensively, finishing the first quarter with a 27-21 lead. By halftime, they had extended their advantage to 48-37, taking advantage of Rivers Hoopers’ turnovers and foul troubles.
Despite early struggles, the Rivers Hoopers displayed good ball movement and teamwork. However, three of their starters got into foul trouble, which impacted them down the stretch.
Al Ahly Coach Ivan Jermic commented, “On paper, they are better than us, but statistics lie. Only their free-throw shooting was different. They shot 45% from the free throw line, and I think that is what determined the game.”
The third quarter saw a remarkable comeback from the Rivers Hoopers. Will Perry sparked the revival with back-to-back three-pointers, bringing his team within two points. The Rivers Hoopers continued their momentum into the fourth quarter, briefly taking an eight-point lead with six minutes remaining. However, Al Ahly fought back to tie the game and push it into overtime, ultimately securing their victory.
Coach Ogoh Odaudu says they consumed energy trying to close the score. “I think we spent a lot of energy trying to get back into the game. We dug ourselves out of a 14-point hole, but what’s done is done.” Despite the loss, Odaudu was pleased with his team’s efforts. “I am proud of our team. We hold our heads high. Nobody believed in us, but we are here. Unfortunately, our fairytale run has come to an end, but the third-place game still means a lot to us, and we are ready for it.”