Defending Champions Petro de Luanda Reach Second Consecutive BAL Final

Defending champions Petro de Luanda have advanced to the Basketball Africa League (BAL) final for the second consecutive year after defeating previously unbeaten Al Ittihad 96-74 in the semifinals. Petro's journey included a crucial 95-84 quarterfinal victory over 2022 champions US Monastir, with standout performances from Kendrick Ray, Patrick Gardner, and Yanick Moreira. The Angolan team overcame a challenging start to the season and demonstrated strong defensive and offensive improvements, including a key 12-0 run in the quarterfinals that established early control. Petro's consistency is historic, marking their fifth consecutive semifinal appearance, a league record. They will face Al Ahli Tripoli, who beat APR, in the final, while Samkelo Cele from South Africa became the first South African to play in a BAL final. The semifinal stages highlighted Petro's resilience and depth, solidifying their status as a dominant force in the BAL.