Samkelo Cele's BAL Playoff Run Gains Meaning With Family In Attendance

Forbes

3 days ago

PRETORIA, TSHWANE - JUNE 7: Samkelo Cele #23 of Metro de Luanda looks on during the game against ... More Armee Patriotique during the 2025 Basketball Africa League Playoffs on June 7, 2025 at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, Tshwane. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Armand Lenoir/NBAE via Getty Images)
For Samkelo Cele, basketball has always been the constant, what changes is everything around it. From Claremont in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa to U.S. college gyms, The NBA2K Summer League, the pro leagues of Spain, and now back under the bright lights of the Basketball Africa League (BAL), Cele's belief remains simple: 'Basketball is basketball.'
In an interview with Forbes.com, Cele shared how this mindset has carried him across continents and through challenges, allowing him to grow without losing sight of who he is or where he's from. Now suiting up for Petro de Luanda, one of Africa's most storied basketball clubs, Cele is once again on a big stage, helping guide his team through the BAL playoffs. Following Petro's commanding 95–84 win over US Monastir in the quarterfinals, they now prepare for a high-stakes semifinal clash against Egypt's Al Ittihad.
However, for Cele, this playoff run holds deeper significance. Competing on South African soil, with his family watching from the stands for the very first time, has turned this campaign into something far more personal. It's not his first appearance in the BAL but it was a homecoming.
PRETORIA, TSHWANE - JUNE 7: Samkelo Cele #23 of Metro de Luanda drives to the basket during the game ... More against Armee Patriotique during the 2025 Basketball Africa League Playoffs on June 7, 2025 at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, Tshwane. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Armand Lenoir/NBAE via Getty Images)
That first playoff game against APR wasn't just another game, it marked a full-circle moment for Cele.
'Even from the moment the starters were being announced, just looking around and seeing my parents, hearing the crowd, it was great,' he reflects. 'It solidified that I was back home.'
It was the first time Cele's family watched him play live professionally. For years, they'd tracked his progress through screens and stat lines. But this was different. It was real. It was loud. And it was personal.
'And it was a tough loss, because we lost, and they don't understand,' Cele says, smiling. 'So to them, it's like, 'Oh my gosh, we're going to pray for you for the next game.' But it was fun. It was fun.'
Their excitement went beyond the scoreboard. It was about witnessing athleticism they'd never seen before in person.
'They got to see even some taller guys jump, dunk. They saw [Raphiael] Putney dunk, and they were like, is he an alien?' he laughs. 'So things like that, because they're not used to seeing that type of athleticism, that fast, up and down the court. And yeah, I think it was good. It was a great experience for sure.'
'Having to do what I do in front of them, as opposed to doing it on TV, I think it was pretty cool.'
These memories, though light-hearted, speak to the depth of his journey, one grounded in faith, family, and a relentless drive to improve. 'The way my parents raised me shaped everything, work hard, stay humble, and trust God. That grounded me before anything else.'
And it shows. While Cele has built a reputation for clutch performances and high-level athleticism, his approach remains anchored in consistency. His return to the BAL came with high expectations, especially after his breakout campaign last season with The Cape Town Tigers, where he was named to the All-BAL First Team. But his transition to Petro, playing alongside and against former rivals, offered something entirely new.
DIAMNIADIO, SENEGAL - APRIL 26: Aboubacar Gakou #15 and Childe Dundao #5 of Petro de Luanda look on ... More during the game against the Kriol Star during the Sahara Conference Group on April 26, 2025 at Dakar Arena in Diamniadia, Senegal. 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 2025 NBAE(Photo by Julien Bacot/NBAE via Getty Images)
'When you're playing against guys like Solo Diabate, Aboubakar Gakou, or Childe Dundao, you only see the end product,' he explains. 'You see how good they are. But now that I'm in the locker room with them, I see how hard they work, how they carry themselves off the court, and what it takes to be consistent at this level. It's been great to learn from them.'
Cele credits his time in Spain for elevating his game and preparing him for this next step. 'Playing under Spanish coaches taught me how to read the game differently. The way they break it down, the details, they see the game in a way that challenges you to think and react smarter.'
His stint in Spain wasn't just about adjusting to a new system, it gave him tools to refine his instincts. 'Now that I'm playing under a Spanish coach again, it all comes full circle. It's made it easier for me to do what I do.'
While Petro's playoff opener ended in a loss to APR, Cele is far from shaken. The team has the experience and discipline to regroup, and their eyes are fixed on the bigger picture.
'First game got it out of the way, the way we played was a little bit off, we had a lot of errors and stuff, but I think how we shot the ball isn't going to be how we shoot the ball for the rest of the competition," he says candidly. "Because watching the game back, we had a lot of open shots that we did not make. And this is a game of buckets. So if you don't make buckets, there's no way you're going to stand a chance to win.'
There's no panic in his voice, just clarity. 'The positive is just knowing that it was the first game and understanding that we're professionals and we don't dwell on the game that wasn't so good. And yeah, short-term memory and focus , we take it one game at a time. The goal for each game at hand is to win it.'
That ability to move on shone through with the way they bounced back to win the quarter-final match up in true Petro de Luanda style with Cele putting up 13 points.
'I'm here to try to impact winning. And so whatever that looks like, whatever that is, I'm going to try to do it to the best of my capabilities and hopefully we go all the way.'
PRETORIA, TSHWANE - JUNE 7: Samkelo Cele #23 of Metro de Luanda warms up before the game against ... More Armee Patriotique during the 2025 Basketball Africa League Playoffs on June 7, 2025 at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, Tshwane. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Armand Lenoir/NBAE via Getty Images)
That drive to win, no matter the role or moment, has been a hallmark of Cele's career. Whether he's hitting big shots, defending top scorers, or communicating on the bench, his value goes beyond the box score.
And playing in front of the next generation of South African fans? That's not lost on him either. 'Some of these kids in the stands watched me grow up. Some of the older guys who used to inspire me are now watching me. It's humbling.'
Despite the glamour of playing for one of Africa's elite teams, Cele remains focused on the mission ahead. Winning the BAL is the only outcome he's after.
'Winning BAL, that's the goal. I've done the individual stuff, made the All-BAL team, and had big games. But winning it all? That's what will solidify my BAL career.'
And the idea of doing it at home, in Pretoria, adds even more meaning. 'If we can win here, in front of our people, in front of the kids who dream of this, it makes it even more special.'
As Petro advances to the semi-finals, Cele knows the stakes are high. But his calm confidence doesn't waver. Whether it's a gym in KZN or a BAL arena packed with thousands, the game remains the same.
'Basketball is basketball,' he says again, smiling. And for Samkelo Cele, that truth has always been more than enough.