June 10, 2025

🏀 🏆 BAL 2025 Showdown – Semifinals: Al Ahli Tripoli vs APR Rwanda

There are some intriguing statistics separating Al Ahli Tripoli from APR, two teams that finished first and second, respectively in the 2025 Nile Conference held in Kigali, Rwanda.

Find below the key stats that you need to know about the first 2025 BAL semifinal billed for the SunBet Arena in Pretoria.

•⁠ ⁠📅 Wednesday, June 11 | 🕓 4PM Local Time
•⁠ ⁠A Matchup of Top Two Squads from the Nile Conference

*Jaylen Adams #2 of Al Ahli Tripoli dribbles the ball during the game against APR during the Nile Conference Group on May 24, 2025, at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.*

📊 Season Series: AHT 2-0
•⁠ ⁠🟰 May 20: AHT 90-68 (No Diarra for APR due injury)
•⁠ ⁠🟰 May 24: AHT 106-102
•⁠ ⁠BAL 2025 Records: AHT is 7-1 while APR is 5-3

🔥 Key Series Performers (in AHT v APR Games)
AHT:
•⁠ ⁠Jaylen Adams: 26 PTS | 8 AST | 4-5 3PT on May 24 in 106-102 W
•⁠ ⁠Jean Jacques Boissy: 21.0 PPG vs APR (27 PTS on May 20)
•⁠ ⁠Naseim Badrush – 25 PTS | 7 REB in W on May 20
•⁠ ⁠Mohamed Sadi: 14.5 PTS | 9.0 REB | 3.5 3PM | 2.5 STL (2 games avgs.)
•⁠ ⁠Assem Marei: 10-10-8 in W on May 24

*Obadiah Noel #1 of APR drives to the basket during the game against Al Ahli Tripoli during the Nile Conference group play on May 20, 2025, at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.*

APR:
•⁠ ⁠Obadiah Noel: 24.0 PPG vs AHT (including a 30-ball in the May 24 loss)
•⁠ ⁠Chasson Randle: 21.5 PPG | 4.5 3PM (2 games)
•⁠ ⁠Aliou Diarra: 10 PTS | 6 REB | 5 BLK in May 24 game, will he be a D-factor?

🔍 Matchup Storylines:
•⁠ ⁠AHT forced 31 TOs over 2 games vs APR
o Can APR limit TOs? AHT leads BAL with 11.6 STL per game
•⁠ ⁠APR leads league in fewest PPG allowed (79.8) but gave up 90+ 3x—twice to AHT
•⁠ ⁠AHT leads BAL in PPG (98.1), 3PM (13.0), PITP (38.3)
•⁠ ⁠Both teams tied 1st in APG (22.5)

*Jaylen Adams #2 and Jacques Boissy #5 of Al Ahli Tripoli high five during the game against MBB during the Nile Conference group play on May 25, 2025, at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.*

📊 BAL Season Key Performers
•⁠ ⁠Boissy ranks 2nd in BAL in PPG (21.4) while Diarra ranks 3rd (19.3) | Boissy is only player in tournament with over 150+ total PTS (173 coming in)
•⁠ ⁠Diarra’s 4.0 BLK per game lead the BAL
•⁠ ⁠AHT leads league in steals and have 3 players avg. over 2+ per game (Boissy – 2.5 | Agada – 2.1 | Sadi – 2.0)
•⁠ ⁠AHT has 2 players who rank top 5 in average +/-
o J. Adams (#3 – 14.0) | J, Boissy (#4 – 11.8)
o Adams, Boissy, and Badrush are all in top 5 in TOTAL +/-
o Another player in the top 5 is featured in this matchup (A. Diarra - #2 at 14.2)
•⁠ ⁠AHT has Fabian White Jr. for this run – avg. 29.0 PTS and 12 REB in South Africa
o 34 and 13 vs Kriol Star in the quarterfinals
💥 Can APR finally crack AHT’s code? Or is Tripoli just too deep?

Fabian White Jr. #4 of Al Ahli Tripoli looks on during the game against the Al Ittihad Alexandria during the 2025 Basketball Africa League Playoffs on June 6, 2025, at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, Tshwane.

New Additions:
•⁠ ⁠2023 BAL MVP Nuni Omot recently joined APR for the 2025 BAL Playoff, replacing Dane Miller Jr.
•⁠ ⁠Fabian White Jr. replaced Deon Thompson in AHT’s roster.