Al-Ahly win 2023 BAL Championship
KIGALI, — Egypt’s Al Ahly Sporting Club won the 2023 Basketball Africa League (BAL) championship after defeating Senegal’s Association Sportive des Douanes 80-65 in the final game of the BAL playoffs and finals, in the Rwandan capital, Kigali on Saturday.
In a low scoring first half, Al Ahly took a slim 38-33 lead to the locker room. In the third quarter however, Corey Webster and Ehab Amin extended the lead to 57-44 with two three-pointers and AS Douanes failed to respond.
AS Douanes initially took the lfirst lead of the game with a three-pointer from Chris Crawford but that lasted only 23 seconds.
Al Ahly’s victory in the BAL makes them the second Egyptian team to win the tournament, following Zamalek’s triumph in the inaugural season.
Al Ahly went 7-1 during the Nile Conference group phase and Playoffs. They defeated Rwanda Energy Group and Mali’s Stade Malien in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively, to advance to the Finals.
In the third place game, Stade Malien defeated Angola’s Club Atlético Petróleos de Luanda (Petro de Luanda) 73-65 on Friday.
Al Ahly forward Anunwa “Nuni” Omot was awarded the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy as the 2023 BAL Most Valuable Player. Omot recorded per game averages of 18.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists during the season.
Notable attendees throughout the 2023 BAL Playoffs and Finals included NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum; FIBA President Hamane Niang; FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis; NBA Africa CEO Victor Williams; NBA SVP and BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall, CAF President Patrice Motsepe, FIBA Africa Executive Director Alphonse Bilé; Toronto Raptors Vice-Chairman and Team President Masai Ujiri; Academy Award-winning actor, social activist and NBA Africa investor Forest Whitaker; BAL Ambassadors and NBA Africa investors Luol Deng (South Sudan), Joakim Noah (France/Cameroon), Ian Mahinmi (France/Benin); and New York Knicks President of G League Operations Pops Mensah-Bonsu (Ghana).
The league announced several end-of-season awards at the conclusion of the season:
2023 BAL Coach of the Year – AS Douanes head coach Mamadou Gueye led his team to a 3-2 record in the Sahara Conference group phase before advancing to the playoffs and falling to Al-Ahly in the finals. Gueye becomes the first African-born coach to win the award.
2023 BAL Defensive Player of the Year- Stade Malien center Aliou Diarra received The Dikembe Mutombo Trophy after helping his team to a 5-3 record and recording per game averages of 18.3 points, 12.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.
2023 BAL Sportsmanship Award- CFV-Beira guard Will Perry received The Manute Bol Trophy for exemplifying the ideals of sportsmanship and camaraderie.
2023 All-BAL First Team
Jean Jacques Boissy (AS Douanes), Chris Crawford (AS Douanes), Dane Miller Jr. (SLAC) Anunwa Omot (Egypt), Aliou Diarra (Stade Malien).
2023 All-BAL Defensive team
Childe Dundao (Petro de Luanda), Jean Jacques Boissyn (AS Douanes), Samkelo Cele (Cape Town Tigers), Aliou Diarra (Stade Malien), Ater Majok (Petro de Luanda).
The voting panels were comprised of coaches, team captains, media and broadcasters in attendance and varied for each award. The 2023 BAL Ubuntu Award, which is awarded to an individual or organization that has made an impact on the local community during the BAL season, will be announced at a later date.
Al Ahly’s win means they will represent Africa in the next edition of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Intercontinental Cup.The Basketball Africa League, Africa’s premier basketball competition, is a collaborative effort between the NBA and FIBA. This year’s edition featured the Sahara Conference, hosted in Dakar, Senegal, and the Nile Conference, hosted in Cairo, Egypt. ■
