Angolan champions Petro de Luanda have emerged champions of the 2024 Basketball Africa League after a 110-94 win over Al Ahly Benghazi of Libya at the BK Arena on Saturday.
Nicholas Faust scored a game high 24 points; Markeith Cummings added 20, Lukeny Goncalves had 16 and Cleusio Castro scored 10 points off the bench.
Petro held a 12 point deficit 52-40 at half time, but got back into it in the third quarter. They also outscored the Libyans in the last two quarters of the game.
The Angolans bench also proved crucial outscoring Al Ahly 51-27.
Jo-Lual Acuil Jr., who was named the 2024 BAL MVP, scored 15 points couldn’t change the outcome of the game as the Angolans ran away with their first BAL title.
Lual was also voted the 2024 All-BAL Defensive Team alongside Samkelo Cele (Cape Town Tigers), Will Perry (Rivers Hoopers), Chris Crawford (US Monastir), and Aliou Diarra (FUS Rabat).
The South Sudanese also won the 2024 Dikembe Mutombo Defensive Player of the Year.
In other categories, Rivers Hoopers’ Will Perry was awarded the Manute Bol BAL Sportsmanship Award for a second season consecutive season while his head coach Ogoh Odaudu won the BAL coach of the year.
Souleyman Diabate ( Al Alhy Ly), Samkelo Cele (Cape Town Tigers), Abdoulaye Harouna (AS Douanes), Jo Lual-Acuil (Al Ahly Ly) and Aliou Diarra of FUS Rabat made the 2024 All-BAL Defensive Team.
