After thirty conference games played, it’s come down to the final eight teams to decide the 2023 BAL title.
In this article, the bal.nba.com brings you facts and historic marks that you should be aware of about the tournament.
The 2023 BAL Finals will run from Saturday, May 20 until Saturday, May 27 at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.
All eight games will be broadcast in 214 countries and territories in 17 languages
KIGALI, RWANDA - MAY 21: An overall view of the Kigali Arena during the game between the Forces Armeés et Police Basketball and the Rwanda Energy Group on May 21, 2022 at the Kigali Arena. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Armand Lenoir/NBAE via Getty Images)
The first game of the Finals will see Stade Malien go up against Cape Town Tigers. Two and half hours later, hosts Rwanda Energy Group (REG) will square off against Al Ahly.
On Sunday, AS Douanes take on Ferroviario da Beira while Petro de Luanda face Abidjan Basket Club (ABC).
The losing teams of the first four games will go home while the winners will advance to the Semi-Finals.
In its third season, there will be a third new BAL champion after last season’s winner US Monastir came up short in the Sahara Conference.
Four of the six teams that qualified automatically to the BAL remain in contention while four teams who went through the FIBA-run qualifying round are also set to compete for the 2023 BAL title.
Among the eight teams heading to the Finals, only three have won the FIBA Africa Champions Cup – the predecessor competition of the BAL – before. ABC won the trophy in 2005 (in Abidjan); Petro de Luanda clinched the FIBA Africa Champions Cup twice in 2006 (Lagos/Nigeria) and 2015 (Luanda/Angola); Al Ahly won the competition in 2016 in Cairo.
After winning the Nile Conference with a perfect 5-0 mark, Petro de Luanda remain as the only team without a defeat ahead of the Finals.
A number of players competing in the BAL Finals have strong chances of representing their countries at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup later this year. Countries heading to the 32-nation World Cup that are represented in the 2023 BAL Finals include Angola, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, New Zealand and South Sudan.
Six of the ten leading scorers from the 2023 BAL group phase will be featured in the Playoffs: Najael Young (Ferroviario da Beira) – 21.6 ppg; Souleymane Berthe (Stade Malien) – 20.4 ppg; Chris Crawford (AS Douanes) – 20 ppg; Nuni Omot (Al Ahly) - 19.4 ppg; Abdoulaye Harouna (ABC Fighters) – 18.8 ppg; William Perry (Beira) – 18.4 ppg.
William Perry set a new record for most three-point shots made in a BAL game. His nine threes helped Beira overcome Seydou Legacy Athletique Club (SLAC) 109-97.
Both Pitchou Manga (REG) and Aliou Diarra (Stade Malien) led all players in block shots. Each player recorded ten block shots over five Sahara Conference games.
Carlos Morais made 19 three-point over five games. That’s the most threes made in a five-game span this season.
REG’s Cleveland Thomas Jr dished out more assists than any other player during the group phase. He recorded 33 assists over five games.
AS Douanes grabbed a group phase-high 226 rebounds over five games.
The BAL will bring you full coverage of the 2023 Finals though its website and social media platforms. Stay tuned for exciting eight BAL games.
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