BAL 2025: Al Ahli Tripoli Suffers First Season Defeat

On Friday, June 6th in Pretoria, South Africa, during the second round-robin match of the BAL 2025 playoffs, Al Ittihad Kriol Star defeated Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli with scores of 74-85. This victory kept Al Ittihad Alexandria as the sole unbeaten team in this year’s tournament after an impressive run at the Nile Conference in Kigali earlier in the month. Al Ahli Tripoli entered these seeding games among the frontrunners following their strong showing in Kigali. Nonetheless, facing off against Al Ittunidad proved challenging for them. By halftime, Tripoli trailed throughout the entire contest and fell behind by over twelve points at certain junctures. In particular, they faced a deficit of fourteen points (28-14) halfway through the second period. Their primary offensive threat—the three-point shot—was largely ineffective; they managed just four successful attempts out of twenty-seven tries overall and zero from beyond the arc in the initial quarter. Fabian White Jr., recently signed by Al Ahli Tripoli, topped both sides’ scorers list with his contribution of 24 points along with ten boards. Co-contributors included Jean Jacques Boissy and Nasseim Badrush, each adding 17 and 16 points respectively. No additional members of the Libyan squad reached double figures in scoring. Reigning BAL Most Valuable Player Jo Lual Acuil—who transferred to Al Ittihad Alexandria shortly prior to playoff commencement—notched leading totals across multiple categories including 16 points alongside 14 rebounds. Fellow countryman Majok Deng bolstered their efforts significantly, amassing a game-best scoreline of nineteen markers. In subsequent rounds, Al Ittihad faces FUS Rabat whereas Al Ahli competes versus Kriol Star. Prior to securing their spot via triumph in the final regular-season encounter, Kriol Star commenced their post-season journey similarly tough yet rewarding fashion. Down by approximately ten points entering the decisive stanza, momentum shifted decisively upon Jalan McCloud nailing a quick-strike trey which put them ahead momentarily at 75-72 mid-fourth-quarter action. Despite intermittent tension thereafter, Kriol Star secured passage past Morocco-based outfit FUS Rabat ultimately winning narrowly 91-88.

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