Petro de Luanda Edge Al Ahly Ly to Secure Third Consecutive BAL Final Spot

Posted : 29 May 2026

Angolan champions Petro de Luanda secured their third consecutive Basketball Africa League (BAL) final appearance after a thrilling 94-88 comeback victory over Al Ahly Ly. The Libyan giants controlled the majority of the contest across the first three quarters. However, a decisive fourth-quarter surge turned the semifinal matchup completely in favour of the experienced Angolan powerhouse.

The turning point arrived with seven minutes remaining on the clock. Cleusio Castro threw down a powerful two-handed dunk from a smooth pick-and-roll executed with Gerson Gonçalves. This crucial play gave Petro de Luanda a 75-73 advantage. They maintained high tactical discipline from that moment onward and never relinquished their lead again.

Childe Dundao provided a massive spark off the bench to rescue Petro from an early double-digit deficit. The diminutive guard ignited the offense by sinking three consecutive long-range shots in the opening quarter. Dundao finished the game with an efficient 26 points, shooting an impressive seven for ten from the field.

Gonçalves acted as the main playmaker for the Angolans throughout the high-stakes clash. He orchestrated the offense brilliantly to finish with 23 points and 10 assists. Meanwhile, Raphiael Putney provided critical secondary scoring off the bench, contributing 14 points to secure the victory.

Al Ahly Ly entered the match as the highest-scoring team of the tournament on a five-game winning streak. Donovan Williams carried the scoring burden for the Libyan team, netting a game-high 30 points. Charlie Moore added 20 points, but their bench was heavily outscored 49-15 by Petro's substitutes.

Petro de Luanda center Cleusio Castro expressed great pride in the collective effort after the final buzzer. He stated that making the final three times in a row is immensely difficult due to the quality of the competition. Castro emphasized that staying humble and respecting their opponents was the key factor in their success.

Al Ahly Ly player Adrees Zeew expressed deep disappointment at missing out on the championship game. He acknowledged that Petro is a highly experienced team that handles difficult situations effectively. Zeew noted that his team would learn from the setback ahead of their next classification fixture.

This result marks the third time Petro de Luanda have defeated Al Ahly Ly in BAL history. The Angolan giants will now face home team RSSB Tigers in the grand final. Al Ahly Ly will contest the third-place playoff match against Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly SC.

Petro de Luanda Edge Al Ahly Ly to Secure Third Consecutive BAL Final Spot

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics