SINGAPORE (Singapore) - It's a global game, you hear people say at the major events, as teams from Africa are becoming increasingly more competitive.
Last year, Al Ahly from Egypt became the first African team to ever win a game at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, and now, Petro de Luanda from Angola want even more success coming in as the Basketball Africa League champions.
Who are they?
Petro de Luanda were founded in 1980, after the merger of three teams: Sonangol, Atletico and Benfica. They wasted no time putting their name in Angolan history books, picking up their first national championship in 1989, and completely taking over the scene in the 1990s with another seven titles, as well as six national cups.
After dominating locally, they needed a bigger stage and got it through the FIBA Africa Club Champions Cup, winning the strongest continental club competition in 2006 and 2015, and finishing runners up another six times.
Petro de Luanda's most recent run of success began with Jose Neto as their playcaller, starting in 2020. Where he left off, Sergio Valdeolmillos picked up, guiding the club to their first ever BAL title in 2024.
Their rosters are usually put together with emphasis on national team players, and they arrive in Singapore with ten homegrown players.
Luanda's biggest star is their shortest player. Childe Dundao, listed at 1.67m (5'6''), is a point guard who averaged 14.0 points and 5.2 assists per game at FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
He spent his entire career with Petro and usually does his part defensively, finishing high on the steals table in each competition, but he was also named MVP of the Angolan Basketball League last season, as well as of the Angolan Cup Final in 2023.
How did they get here?
The journey started back in 2023, as they qualified for the Basketball Africa League by virtue of winning the domestic title in Angola.
They struggled in the first part of the BAL in 2024, forcing the aforementioned coaching change after a 2-2 record in the Kalahari Conference, finishing second, behind FUS Rabat from Morocco.
Luanda then lost to US Monastir and were only the sixth seed ahead of the BAL Playoffs. But an incredible clutch run followed, with a 1-point win over AS Douanes in the Quarter-Finals, an overtime success against the Cape Town Tigers in the Semi-Finals, and a 107-94 triumph in the high-scoring Final, where they took down Al-Ahly Ly.
Even though the BAL competition is still young, Petro de Luanda can already be considered one of its most successful teams, the only one with four consecutive Semi-Final appearances, and the current title holders.
Why should we watch them?
We already talked about Childe Dundao, but their main offensive weapon was Nick Faust last season, getting to 20+ points in both the Semi-Finals and the Final of the BAL, after knocking down 11 three-pointers over those two matchups.
Yanick Moreira is the man in the middle, still being productive back home after a long career which saw him play in the United States, Spain, Canada, Iran, Russia, Greece, Italy and Israel.
His physical appearance usually reminds people of Kevin Durant, but not as much nowadays as in 2014, when he posted 38 points and 15 rebounds in a game against Australia at the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
The two newcomers should help Faust and Moreira in rotation. Jarrod Cumberland is coming in as the new shooting guard, with a lot of NBA G League experience, getting his first taste of international basketball on the eve of his 27th birthday.
Patrick Gardner will help Moreira on the inside. The lefty big guy is not a stranger to this level of basketball, having played for the Egyptian national team at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 and the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024.
Who will they play in Singapore?
They open up their account with a game against the Basketball Champions League Europe winners Unicaja, from Spain, which tips off on September 12. Luanda will enjoy a day off on Friday, before jumping back into action with a matchup against Al Riyadi Beirut, the BCL Asia champions.
If they win the group, they will play the Final on September 15. If they finish second, they move to the Third-Place Game. If they end the group stage behind both Unicaja and Al Riyadi, they will be in the battle for fifth place on the final day of action.