Latest news with #BAL
Libya Observer
a day ago
- Sport
- Libya Observer
Al Ahly Tripoli qualify for BAL finals with record-breaking run
Kigali, Rwanda – Libyan basketball club Al Ahly Tripoli have secured their place in the finals of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) after a dominant performance in the Nile Conference, finishing with a perfect 6–0 record. The team, coached by Lebanon's Fouad Abou Chacra, swept past South Africa's MBB, Kenya's Nairobi City Thunder, and hosts Rwanda Army, winning both home and away ties in the round-robin stage. Their unbeaten campaign extends to 12 games, including earlier qualifiers in Tripoli and Abidjan. Al Ahly's performances in Kigali were not only convincing but historic. The Libyan side shattered the BAL's all-time scoring record with a 115–87 win over Nairobi, eclipsing the previous record of 113 points set by US Monastir in 2021. They also became the first team in the tournament's history to score over 100 points in four separate matches. Senegalese forward Jean Jacques Boissy made headlines with a 30-point game—the highest individual tally in BAL history—surpassing the previous best of 29 points set by US Monastir's DJ Hardy. Team captain Mohamed Al-Saadi also impressed, ranking second in rebounds with an average of 9.5 per game. Speaking after the win, point guard Nassim Badrouch praised the team's achievement but urged caution ahead of the finals in Pretoria, South Africa, which begin on 5 June. Al Ahly Tripoli will face fellow undefeated side Al Ittihad Alexandria of Egypt to determine final seeding. The winner will face the loser of Creole Sport (Cape Verde) vs FUS Rabat (Morocco) in the quarter-finals, while the runner-up will play the winner. The knockout stage will determine the 2025 BAL champion. The tournament is organised by FIBA Africa in collaboration with the NBA. Tags: basketball club Al Ahly Tripoli
The South African
4 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Larry O'Brien trophy visits the Sharks as NBA Finals approach
The iconic Larry O'Brien basketball NBA Championship Trophy made a special visit to Durban this month. The visit thrilled South African sports fans by dropping in on the Sharks rugby team. This marks another exciting stop on the trophy's global tour ahead of the 2025 NBA Finals, which tip off on 5 June. The Larry O'Brien Trophy, a symbol of basketball excellence. It has been captivating fans worldwide as the NBA Playoffs enter their final, nail-biting stages. The trophy itself is a masterpiece, crafted from nearly 16 pounds of sterling silver with a 24-karat gold overlay, according to the NBA. Its design is elegant yet dynamic, etched to resemble a basketball net with a regulation-size ball perched on the rim. HISTORY OF THE TROPHY The trophy's history dates back to 1978, when it replaced the Walter A. Brown Trophy. In 1984, it was renamed in honour of Larry O'Brien, the NBA commissioner from 1975 to 1984. Larry played a pivotal role in expanding the league and introducing the three-point shot. Larry O'Brien's legacy is etched not only in the trophy but also in the growth of basketball worldwide. 'Larry was a visionary who helped shape the NBA into the global phenomenon it is today,' said a spokesperson from NBA Africa. 'Having the trophy here in Durban is a testament to basketball's expanding reach. It is the passion that inspires in South Africa.' South African basketball fans have plenty to cheer for beyond the NBA Finals. The local team, Made By Basketball (MBB), is led by 1986 NBA champion Sam Vincent. The team is gearing up for the Basketball Africa League's (BAL) Nile Conference. The conference kicks off in Kigali on Saturday. MBB's journey could bring top-tier basketball to South African soil during the BAL Playoffs and Finals at SunBet Arena in Pretoria from 6 to 14 June. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster, priced affordably for local fans eager to witness high-level competition live. 'The Larry O'Brien Trophy's visit energises our players and fans alike,' said Sam Vincent. 'It's a reminder of what's possible with hard work and dedication. We hope to bring that same spirit to the BAL and make South Africa proud.' With the NBA Finals just around the corner and the BAL season heating up, basketball is firmly on the South African sports map. The Larry O'Brien Trophy tour is a celebration of basketball's growing influence and a call to fans to embrace the game's excitement. As the countdown to 5 June 5 continues, South African fans can look forward to thrilling NBA action on ESPN and NBA League Pass. The Larry O'Brien Trophy's visit to Durban is a shining example of basketball's unifying power, inspiring a new generation of players and supporters across the continent. In the words of a Sharks player who got to see the trophy up close: 'Holding the Larry O'Brien Trophy felt surreal. It's a symbol of greatness, and now it's part of our story here in South Africa.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Herald
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Vincent has flashbacks of legendary Larry Bird in Prinsloo's display against Thunder
He said the adjustment he made by bringing 2,13m tall David Craig into the starting five in place of Nkosi Sibanyoni brought stability in their defence. The win was the Johannesburg-based team's first-ever in the BAL after losing two games at the weekend. 'Getting this win is almost like a full circle,' Vincent said. 'I first came to SA in 1999 and got involved with basketball. 'From coaching in SA, I got to the NBA and had a chance to coach. 'Having a chance 25 years later to come back and get this win, which is so important for what we're trying to do to get more exposure and promote basketball in SA, is very important. 'So it's exciting, but more importantly, we have to keep our heads down and keep on working, and that's what we're going to do in the next couple of games.' The win was influential in boosting MBB's chances for the playoffs in Pretoria. The SA team either have to win one game with a superior points difference, or two games, depending on how other matches play out in the conference, to comfortably claim the last wild card spot. That berth is currently occupied by FUS Rabat of Morocco, who have won two games but have a negative 19-point difference. MBB will next play Rwanda's Armée Patriotique at the same venue on Thursday. Daily Dispatch
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First Post
20-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
It's Yunus vs Bangladesh Army chief over delayed elections as Dhaka stares at political crisis: Report
Tensions appear to be brewing in Bangladesh as Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman and interim ruler Muhammad Yunus appear to be at odds. While Zaman is pushing for elections at the earliest, Yunus is delaying and putting his weight behind anti-Zaman faction in the Army seeking his ouster. read more Bangladesh's interim ruler, Muhammad Yunus, and Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman appear to be at odds. While Zaman is pushing for elections at the earliest so that Bangladesh could have an elected government, Yunus appears to be delaying the exercise and putting his weight behind Zaman's rivals who are friendly with foreign powers, according to CNN-News 18. After weekslong street violence forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee the country for her life in August 2024, the Bangladeshi Army and agitating groups propped the unelected administration of Yunus to see through the governance until elections would be held. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While unelected with no democratic mandate, Yunus has gone about making significant chances to Bangladeshi polity. He has presided over the systemic removal of Bangladesh's founder Shekh Mujibur Rahman from the national conscience and the crackdown of Hasina's party Bangladesh Awami League (BAL). One reason for the tussle between Yunus and Zaman is also believed to be their opposite inclinations. While Zaman is usually seen as a pro-India figure with little sympathy for Islamists, Yunus and his administration are pro-Pakistan whose primary audiences are hardliner Islamists in Bangladesh and abroad. Army chief wants elections at the earliest, concerned about foreign influence Zaman wants elections at the earliest as foreign influence and interference in the country's affairs has risen to an unacceptable level under Yunus, according to CNN-News 18. The report further said that Zaman has called for an urgent meeting to explore the 'plan of action'. Army sources told CNN-News 18, 'The Army chief wants Yunus to declare elections as soon as possible. His biggest worry is instability due to foreign interference, which may be a possibility because of Yunus who is perceived as a puppet of foreign agencies." Sources further said that the 'Army's biggest worry is Yunus' release of prisoners through executive orders". Earlier, sources close to the Army chief had told CNN-News18 that the Bangladesh Army was on-board with Zaman. Yunus has released several Islamist leaders from jail, such as Jashimuddin Rahmani Hafi, the chief of terrorist group Al Qaeda's affiliate Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT). As a result, Islamist extremists have taken the centre-stage in Bangladesh since Yunus' appointment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While Yunus has released terrorists from jail, he has banned Hasina's BAL and all of its affiliates. Yunus putting weight behind Army chief's rival As Zaman is seen as a pro-India figure, Yunus is putting weight behind a rival general who is believed to share his own pro-Pakistan nature, according to CNN-News 18. Lieutenant General Faizur Rahman, the Quarter-Master General of Bangladeshi Army, has held a closed-door meeting with National Security Advisor (NSA) Khalilur Rahman, a confidant of Yunus. CNN-News 18 reported sources as saying that the attempt of the NSA would be to remove Zaman as Army chief. However, sources said that most of the commanders are on board with Zaman and a successful coup is unlikely. Separately, Pakistani intelligence tsar Lt Gen Asim Malik has also met Rahman, which suggested that Pakistan had overtly joined hands with the anti-Zaman faction of the Army. Earlier, CNN-News 18 had reported that Bangladeshi Army was divided into pro-Pakistan and pro-Awami League factions and that the pro-Pakistan faction of Rahman —supported by Yunus and NSA— considered a coup but most of the generals and officers refused to align with them. However, the report quoted sources as saying that Rahman's pro-Pakistan stand continued to cause friction in the Army. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
TimesLIVE
20-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Soshanguve's Mothiba embraces being second-oldest player at Basketball Africa
His teammates call him 'Bra Neo' or 'Grootman', terms relating to him being a big brother and also as a sign of respect. At the age of 43, Made By Ball (MBB) player Neo Mothiba is a testament to the saying that dreams delayed are not dreams denied. The Soshanguve basketball star is still going strong and is not planning to stop playing any time soon — as long as his legs and body can still keep up with the pace of the game, he says. His peers, with whom he started his career way back in the early 2000s, are either retired, coaching or focusing on their daily jobs. But Mothiba is still adding more stripes to his impressive hooping career. MBB is going crazy before the game 🧨 Which one is your favorite ? #BAL5 — Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) May 18, 2025 He recently made his debut for Johannesburg's MBB in the continent's biggest competition, the Basketball Africa League in the Nile Conference, which is ongoing in Rwanda. That made him the second-oldest player in the current BAL edition after Radhouane Slimane, 44, of Tunisia's Union Sportive Monastir, commonly known as US Monastir. 'It is a testament to the amount of work you constantly put in, I don't know how he feels [Slimane],' Mothiba said. 'I would have loved to play earlier in the BAL, but the opportunity has come. To be playing at my age and be playing with slightly younger guys means that anyone can do it.' With the kind of experience that comes with being around the South African basketball scene for almost three decades, it comes as no surprise that he is part of MBB's leadership group, which Mothiba embraces. Round 2 of the Nile Conference was something else! Here are your Top 5 plays from yesterday 👊 #BAL5 — Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) May 19, 2025 'The presence with the team is with my leadership style, some of the guys gravitate to me whenever they need advice, be it basketball or personal,' Mothiba said. His basketball CV is unmatched in the country, and he also helps fight social ills in his community through his company, Beyond the Arc, which focuses on youth development through basketball. Mothiba is a former SA national team captain and has made appearances in the 2005, 2007 and 2009 African Championships, as well as the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. At club level, he has had stints for Pretoria Heat, Egoli Magic, Jozi Nuggets, Soweto Panthers and Tshwane Suns. He had the luxury of watching his current employers grow through the ranks of SA Basketball. MBB have progressed from a social club to a professional powerhouse. Now, together with MBB, which Mothiba joined in 2024, he is attempting to help his team qualify for the BAL playoffs in South Africa in June. As for his teammates, he has pressured them to deliver in the Nile Conference in Kigali so that they return to SA to compete in the playoffs on home soil. The SA team need to win two or three of their remaining games and construct a superior points difference. 'We wouldn't be human if we didn't think about that,' Mothiba said. 'Of course, it's being talked about within the camp, but the coaches try to make sure we don't think ahead and that we focus on the task at hand — making it through the Nile Conference.'
