The 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Playoffs officially tipped off at SunBet Arena in Pretoria on Friday night, delivering high-octane basketball and electrifying performances on and off the court. Two tightly contested matchups kicked off the tournament, with Kriol Star and Al Ittihad Alexandria emerging as the opening night winners.

Kriol Star Rally Late to Clinch a Gritty Victory Over FUS Rabat

In a game shaped by resilience and late-game composure, Cape Verde’s Kriol Star edged FUS Rabat 91–88 to lock up the seventh seed in the BAL Playoffs. Missing several key players due to internal team issues and suspensions, Kriol Star turned to their depth—and their fight—to overcome a ten-point deficit in the third quarter and secure a hard-earned win.

Jalan McCloud, signed recently to bolster a depleted roster, stepped into the spotlight with 21 points, including a crucial go-ahead three-pointer in the final stretch. Reflecting on the moment, McCloud explained that he read the play perfectly and took his chance: “They tried to trap my other guard. I saw no one stepped up. I’d taken two or three already, so I thought, ‘Why not?’ Fortunately, it worked out for me.”

Joel Ntambwe—brother of NBA player Jonathan Kuminga—contributed 22 points and provided a dominant physical presence, while Ivan Almeida, who posted a triple-double (18 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists), was the emotional leader throughout. He praised the team’s grit, saying: “Our trajectory in a short space of time has been nothing short of amazing, but we’ve got to stay hungry. It’s in the spirit of Cape Verdeans. We’re fighters.”

Despite a fast start and strong showing from Yacine Baeri (22 points) and Mouhamadou Diagne (10 points, 10 rebounds), FUS Rabat faltered under pressure. They led 60–50 in the third quarter and held a six-point cushion going into the final frame, but could not maintain control as Kriol Star surged back.

Lewis Uvwo brought impact off the bench, Keven Gomes added an important late layup, and McCloud caught fire again just as the game reached boiling point. Ntambwe’s tip-in with under a minute to go pushed the lead to 88–84, and while Baeri nailed a quick three to make it a one-point game, Kriol Star held their nerve down the stretch.

FUS Rabat’s Baeri acknowledged the lapses that cost them: “Let’s be honest. We’ve shown some good things as a team. We kept fighting, but they beat us in fast-break points. We can’t only play for three quarters—we have to be locked in for forty minutes.”

McCloud emphasized that the mission isn’t complete: “It’s just a seeding game. One game at a time. Basketball isn’t a perfect game. We’re going to make mistakes. Hopefully, we can adjust and continue winning.”

With this win, Kriol Star will face Al Ahli Tripoli in the quarterfinals, while FUS Rabat take on the formidable Al Ittihad Alexandria.

Al Ittihad Alexandria Dominate Early, Hand Al Ahli Tripoli First BAL Loss

In the night’s second matchup, Al Ittihad Alexandria took full advantage of their size, chemistry, and game plan to hand Al Ahli Tripoli a first loss of the 2025 BAL season, winning 85–74 and sending a strong message in the process.

The Libyan champions, who arrived in Pretoria unbeaten, were immediately forced into unfamiliar territory. For the first time this season, they never led in the first half—and by the second quarter, they were trailing by 14. Their trademark three-point shooting was nowhere to be found, going 0-for-6 in the opening quarter and finishing just 4-for-27 for the game.

New signing Fabian White Jr. led Tripoli with 24 points and 10 rebounds, and while Jean Jacques Boissy and Nasseim Badrush combined for 33 points, no other player cracked double digits. Boissy was candid afterward, admitting: “We faced a great team. They outran us, and we missed shots that we normally make. Losing is part of the process. We just need to regroup and improve.”

Tripoli’s head coach, Fouad Bou Chakra, echoed those sentiments, reflecting on the team’s need to rediscover its identity: “We made some good decisions, but in Kigali we showed better character. Today, we didn’t have stability although we tried to come back a couple of times. This is our first loss in the BAL and we’ll use it as a wake-up call. We have to do some extra work defensively and come back stronger with a solid character.”

Al Ittihad, meanwhile, executed their game plan with precision. Majok Deng top-scored with 19 points, while Jo Lual Acuil—the reigning BAL MVP who joined the team just before the playoffs—added 16 points and 14 rebounds. Kyle Vinales also played a key supporting role with 12 points and four assists.

“We just wanted to see how Jo fits in. As you can see—he fits in pretty well,” said Vinales. “We came here with one goal. We didn’t win the Egyptian championship, so this is our redemption path. Our chemistry is better than expected, and I’m excited to see how much better we can get with each game.”

With Al Ittihad now set to face FUS Rabat and Al Ahli Tripoli drawn against Kriol Star, the quarterfinal matchups are poised for even more drama and redemption arcs.

From Kriol Star’s emotional comeback to Al Ittihad’s clinical dismantling of an unbeaten contender, Friday night’s opening act of the 2025 BAL Playoffs set a high standard. The road to the championship is long, but if this opening night is anything to go by, fans are in for a tournament packed with intensity, redemption, and unforgettable moments.