The 2025 Basketball Africa League Final isn’t just a game – it’s a full-court moment in history. For the first time ever, the continent’s grandest basketball prize will be decided on South African soil, with Pretoria’s SunBet Arena hosting what promises to be a classic.

On Saturday night, Al Ahli Tripoli will take the floor against defending champions Petro de Luanda in a matchup that pits raw firepower against cold-blooded experience.

Al Ahli Tripoli arrive red-hot, coming off a confident 84-71 semifinal win over Rwanda’s APR. It was a clinic in shot-making, tempo control and transition offense. But perhaps most impressive is how this Libyan side has gone from being playoff newcomers to offensive juggernauts in just weeks.

“We’re not scared of the moment,” said Fabian White Jr., who’s become the breakout star of the tournament. “Every game, someone new steps up. We’re deep, we shoot the hell out the ball, and we don’t take our foot off the gas.”

White Jr. is averaging 27 points and 10 boards in the playoffs, hitting big-time buckets like a man on a mission. Caleb Agada is running the offense like a seasoned floor general, and when Tripoli go five out and push the pace, they can light up any scoreboard in Africa. They’re leading the BAL in three-point percentage this postseason and have arguably the best bench in the tournament – instant offense with no drop in defensive pressure.But standing in their way is a team that’s been here before – and won it all.

Petro de Luanda looked locked in during their 96-74 semifinal demolition of Al Ittihad. It wasn’t flashy – it was just flawless basketball. Kendrick Ray, smooth and surgical, finished with 21 points, while Aboubacar Gakou continued to be the two-way anchor for the Angolan giants.

“We’ve played in Finals. We’ve been tested,” said Petro captain Carlos Morais. “Tripoli is explosive, but we know how to slow the game down, defend without fouling, and kill you possession by possession. That’s championship basketball.”

Make no mistake: this will be a battle of styles. Tripoli want a track meet – spacing the floor, attacking early, and letting their shooters get hot. Petro want a grind – half-court execution, solid rotations, and dictating the tempo like maestros.

X-factors? For Tripoli, it’s their ability to stay composed if shots stop falling. Can they find points at the rim if Petro run them off the line? For Petro, it’s about matching the Libyan side’s energy. They’re older, more disciplined – but can they keep up if the game turns into a shootout? Also watch the glass. Tripoli loves to leak out and run, but Petro dominates the boards.

If Luanda owns second-chance opportunities, it could be a long night for the North Africans.

There’s more than a trophy on the line here. The winner earns a spot at the 2025 FIBA Intercontinental Cup, a chance to represent Africa on the global stage. And for the host country – South Africa – this is a cultural milestone.

The energy in Pretoria is electric. Fans are showing out, the stands are filling up early, and the city is buzzing like it’s an NBA All-Star Weekend.

“This is what African basketball looks like when it levels up,” said one BAL executive courtside. “This Final? This is the blueprint for where the game is going.”

Tip-off is set. The lights are bright. The stakes are massive. One team will etch their name into BAL history. Whether it’s Tripoli’s first or Petro’s back-to-back, we’re all about to witness greatness in Pretoria. Don’t blink.