What has been learned from the first ten 2025 BAL postseason games?

The biggest takeaway from the first ten games of the 2025 BAL postseason is that the playoffs are a whole new ballgame, regardless of how well a team has performed.

New signings made during the interval between the conferences and the postseason strengthened teams, altering potential outcomes.

There are no longer any undefeated teams, and one of the conference's worst performers is now set to defend its league title.

How did we get here?

Al Ahli Tripoli and Al Ittihad arrived in Pretoria with perfect 6-0 records but are now 8-1, with only one making it to the final on Saturday, June 14.

The Libyan champions replaced the impressive Deon Thompson with the highly efficient Fabian White Jr., and the BAL debutants' outlook is promising.

Al Ahli Tripoli lost its seeding game against Al Ittihad in a matchup that was billed as a potential 2025 BAL final. However, Petro de Luanda regrouped in time to relaunch its title defense.

The Angolan champions also started on the losing end in the seeding game.

They suffered an embarrassing 18-point loss to a Playoffs debutant APR.

However, Petro de Luanda not only knocked out title contender US Monastir in the quarterfinals, but also upset Al Ittihad Alexandria, who reached the semifinals with an impressive 8-0 record.

Petro de Luanda made history by becoming the first team to reach the BAL final three times in the league’s five years of existence, improving from a 3-3 mark in the Sahara Conference to 5-4 ahead of Saturday’s 2025 BAL Final against Al Ahli Tripoli.

As for Al Ittihad, their unexpected 96-74 loss to Petro de Luanda ended what would have been a moment that saved their season. They also lost the 2025 Egyptian League title to former BAL champions Al Ahly SC.

Like Petro de Luanda, Al Ahli Tripoli started their postseason campaign with a loss, but they are now in the finals and poised to bring the first BAL title to Libya.

Rwanda’s APR reinforced their roster by signing 2023 BAL Most Valuable Player Nuni Omot. Omot excelled in his first games with the Lions, but APR was forced to play for third place against Al Ittihad Alexandria after losing their third straight game of the season against Tripoli.

How did we get to a point where front-runners are relegated to the consolation round?

The main takeaway from the past five BAL seasons is that a positive start may be promising. However, unless a team remains focused, makes the necessary adjustments, scouts their opponents properly, and follows through, what appeared to be a promising season could end up being a disastrous one.

The Rivers Hoopers finished the 2025 Kalahari Conference in Rabat, Morocco, with a 4-2 record. However, they lost two postseason games in a row and were eliminated.

In the postseason opener, BAL debutant Kriol Star put on a show, beating FUS Rabat 91-88. However, the islanders fell short against Al Ahli Tripoli (107-81) in the quarterfinals, returning home with an overall record of 4-4.

US Monastir, winners of the 2025 Sahara Conference, arrived in Pretoria ready to fight for their first BAL title since 2022. However, they fell short, losing 95-84 to Petro de Luanda—a team they had beaten in the 2022 BAL final to win their first and only BAL title.

FUS Rabat did many things right in the postseason but shot themselves in the foot when they lost to Al Ittihad Alexandria 86-83 in overtime. They finished the postseason 0-2 for an overall 2-6 record.

It's not how you start those matters, but how you finish.

Remember Petro de Luanda’s 2023 season, when they outperformed all the Nile Conference teams in Cairo, including the eventual champions, Al Ahli SC? That’s what the BAL conferences and postseasons have become.