Vinales, Al Ittihad on a BAL mission for the fans of Alexandria

Minutes after Al Ittihad Alexandria beat 2025 Kalahari Conference host FUS Rabat 71-60, Al Ittihad guard Kyle Vinales reminded everyone what their goal in the BAL was.

“We hear the fans of Alexandria. They want the [BAL] championship because those big two Egyptians teams have won it.”

Vinales, who masterminded the Egyptian champions' offense with four assists and 12 points, was referring to Cairo-based Zamalek and Al Ahly SC, winners of the 2021 and 2023 seasons, respectively.

Playing in front of a full house at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex, FUS Rabat threatened Al Ittihad for much of the first quarter, but allowing Al Ittihad go on a 9-0 scoring run in the second proved too much for the Moroccan champions.

FUS Rabat trailed 38-28 at the break, and although they closed the gap to eight points down the stretch (52-44), Vinales and his teammates were on a mission.

"It was a great environment," Vinales admitted, before explaining that for a team that hadn't practiced together for more than a week, starting the BAL season with a win against a "good Moroccan team" was a positive sign.

"We played well defensively against the best team in Morocco. To beat them by 11 points is unheard of. Our defense really carried us tonight," added Vinales.

Former NBA player George King led Al Ittihad with 19 points and South Sudanese Majok Deng, who played for Libyan side Al Ahly Ly in the last BAL season, added 18 points.

"George King, Majok Deng and Deng Deng only joined us six days ago," said Vinales.

"I'm looking forward to building chemistry and seeing how much better we can get in the next five games."

When asked about the team's morale, Vinales described it as "a great group of guys… Everyone is focused on getting to the Finals. We are doing everything we can to get there.

"I wouldn't say that we feel any pressure, but I do feel that we have to, for sure," Vinales explained of their attempt to replicate the success of Al Ahly SC and Zamalek.

"We haven't played our best offensively, but I'm very confident about our chances," Vinales said.

FUS Rabat playmaker Johnathan Jordan, who finished with a game-high 22 points, admitted it was a tough loss.

"I think we should have won, and we can beat this team. The difference in the game was the second chance points. We lost by 11. Those are missed opportunities when we rebound the ball; 50-50 ball, that was literally the difference in the game. I thought the game was even.

FUS Rabat face Rivers Hoopers of Nigeria on Sunday, while Al Ittihad will take on Stade Malien.