PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR ON DAY 1 OF THE FINALS

There will be some exciting match-ups when the 2023 BAL Finals get underway on Saturday, May 20 in Kigali.

Besides the battles to determine the four semi-finalists, five players are expected to be on the spotlight at BK Arena.

When Stade Malien take on Cape Town Tigers in the opening game of the Finals, Souleymane Berthe and Aliou Diarra will look to come up on top against Cape Town’s duo of Samkelo Cele and Evans Ganapamo.

Berthe, Diarra, Cele and Ganapamo did so well during the Conference games that they are often credited with their teams’ qualifications to the Finals.
 
Diarra, for instance, was simply superb in Dakar.
 
The 6’9 center displayed his scoring prowess and rebounding ability throughout Stade Malien’s five games.
 
And, surprisingly - or maybe not – they ended up clinching the Conference title with a 3-2 mark.
 
Another Stade Malien standout player that was incredibly impactful during the Sahara Conference was Berthe.

A 6’6 combo-guard who can score from almost any corner of the floor, Berthe’s 20 points and 4 assists per game during the Sahara Conference reflected his leading role within the Malian champions’ rotation.
 
If both Diarra and Berthe remain as efficient as they were in the regular season, Cape Town will need to bring their A-game defensively.
 
But, in a game that could go either way, the Tigers have reasons to stay positive, especially if both Ganapamo and Cele display their combative mentality.

Cele has become a breath of fresh air for the Tigers thanks to his unique athleticism and ferocity to attack the basket.
 
And, if Ganapamo is able to be as effective defensively as he has been on the offensive end, Cape Town are safe.
 
Both Ganapamo and Cele led Cape Town in scoring with 16 and 13 points per game apiece.
 
Who else can be difference-makers on Day 1 of the Finals?
 
The answer is, many players from either Rwanda Energy Group (REG) or Al Ahly.
 
This clash won’t be short of high calibre players, some of whom have displayed MVP credentials.
 
Nuni Omot was the heart-and-soul of Al Ahly during the Nile Conference, and he remains the Egyptian champions go-to man.
 
Omot averaged 19 points per game.
 
Corey Webster, a three-point specialist, and seven-footer center Omar Oraby played huge roles for Al Ahly, and are expected to steer the former African champions into the Semi-Final.
 
One thing that REG will try to avoid is a second straight exit of the competition in the Quarter-Finals in front of their home fans.
 
And, to remain in the race for a place in the Semi-Finals, Adonis Filer, Cleveland Thomas Jr and Jean Jacques, who have been vital for REG, will need to avoid distractions and discard any potential pressure.