TRIPOLI (Libya) - Double digits wins, high intensity on the floor and local fans making the party in the stands marked the start of the qualification round for the fifth edition of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) on Thursday in Tripoli, Libya.
ABC Fighters (Cote d'Ivoire), Spintex Knights (Ghana) and hosts Al Ahly Tripoli dominated the proceedings on the opening day of the Road to BAL 2025.
The Knights' 82-69 win over Elan Coton (Benin) represents the first victory by a Ghanaian team in the Road to BAL after Braves Customs finished 0-4 in the tournament in 2019.
James Amotoe led all players in scoring, finishing with 28 to help the Knights to the historic triumph.
In the first game of the day, former African champions ABC Fighters outclassed Liberia's Mighty Barolle Basketball Club 88-69 to take the lead of Group B ahead of Spintex.
Jabari Akins Narcis came off ABC's bench to finish with 17 points and 11 rebounds, helping ABC to a much-needed victory, while Gambian Omar Samba led the Liberian outfit with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
In the third and last game of the day, Stade Malien outscored hosts Al Ahly Tripoli 20-15 in the third quarter, but it was a short-lived momentum for the Malian champions, who looked helpless in the decisive last quarter, trailing 24-14 to close the day with an 85-66 loss.
Libyan international player Nasein Badrush and Ivan Almeida combined 9 three-pointers, finishing with 21 and 14 points, respectively while Micheal Eric dominated the painted area with a game-high of 23 points. Mahamane Coulibaly led State Malien with a team-high 20 points.
The Road to BAL 2025 resumes on Friday with Elan Coton taking on Mighty Barolle, while Spintex Knights and ABC Fighters will trade blows for the chance of taking Group B's top place.
In Friday's last game, Cape Verde's Kriol Star will open their Road to BAL 2025 campaign facing Stade Malien in Group A's only action of the day.
FIBA