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2021 BAL season

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2021 BAL season
LeagueBasketball Africa League
Season2021
Dates16 – 30 May 2021
Games played26
Teams12
Regular season
Season MVPWalter Hodge
(Zamalek)
Finals
ChampionsEgypt Zamalek (1st title)
  Runners-upTunisia US Monastir
Third placeAngola Petro de Luanda
Fourth placeRwanda Patriots
Statistical leaders
Points Terrell Stoglin (AS Salé) 30.8
Rebounds Ibrahima Thomas (Police) 12.0
Assists Myck Kabongo (Ferroviário) 6.8
Records
Biggest home win47 points
GNBC 66–113 US Monastir
(12 May 2021)
Winning streak6 games
Zamalek
Highest attendance1,789
US Monastir 63–76 Zamalek
(30 May 2021)
Seasons

The 2021 BAL season, also known as BAL Season 1, was the inaugural season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL). Established as a joint effort between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and FIBA, the BAL is the highest tier continental league of Africa, replacing the FIBA Africa Basketball League.[1] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the BAL held its inaugural season one year later as planned, with the season beginning in 2021.[2][3] Initially the league planned to play in six venues in six countries; however, due to the pandemic the season was held in a bio-secure bubble in Kigali, Rwanda. The season began on 16 May 2021 and ended on 30 May 2021.[4]

The qualifying rounds for the season were held from 16 October to 21 December 2019, with national champion of each African country has the opportunity to qualify through the qualifying rounds. Meanwhile, six national champions directly qualified for the regular season to make a total of twelve teams in the main tournament.

Zamalek won the first-ever BAL championship after beating US Monastir in the finals and going undefeated over the season.[5]

Organisation

[edit]

The plans to establish the BAL by FIBA and the NBA were first revealed in February 2019 during the 2019 NBA All-Star Game.[6]

In August 2019, the seven host cities for the BAL season were announced.[7] Additionally, it was revealed that the inaugural BAL Final Four would be played in the Kigali Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. BAL president Amadou Gallo Fall, later announced at the NBA All-Star 2020 Africa Luncheon in Chicago, that the season was planned to tip off on 13 March 2020.[8] On 20 February 2020, it was announced that the 12 teams were to be drawn in two conferences, named the Sahara and Nile Conferences.[9]

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

[edit]

On 3 March 2020, the BAL announced it was postponing its inaugural season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] The decision was made following recommendations of the Senegalese government.

In November, the start of the inaugural season was delayed for a second time and the new season was moved to a later to be announced date in 2021.[11] In March it was announced the league would commence in May 2021. The complete event was rescheduled to be held in the Kigali Arena and the regular season changed its format from two groups to three groups of four.[4] All twelve teams were hosted in a bio-secure bubble in which all players were regularly tested for COVID-19. All games were broadcast live by ESPN Africa.[12]

Qualification

[edit]

The twelve teams for the inaugural BAL season had to qualify in their domestic competitions to be able to play in the league, similar to other FIBA-organised competitions. Six teams qualified directly as their national champions while an additional six teams qualified through regional qualifying tournaments.

Direct qualification

[edit]

FIBA announced that the national champions of six member associations would be directly qualified for the regular season. These teams are from countries which are also hosts cities for the regular season, except for Final Four host Rwanda.[7] On 23 October 2019, AS Douanes won the Senegalese national championship, becoming the first club to qualify.[13]

Directly qualified teams
No. Country Team Notes
1  Angola Petro de Luanda Directly Qualified
2  Egypt Zamalek
3  Morocco AS Salé
No. Country Team Notes
4  Nigeria Rivers Hoopers Directly Qualified
5  Senegal AS Douanes
6  Tunisia US Monastir

Qualifying tournaments

[edit]

Each of the FIBA Africa member associations was able to register one team from its country to participate in the qualifying tournaments. A total of 31 teams played in the first round, which was divided into six groups in six different host cities.[14] The qualification tournaments started on 16 October and will end 21 December 2019.

Teams and countries playing in the 2020 BAL Qualifying Tournaments
No. Country Team Notes
1  Algeria GS Pétroliers Qualified
2  Benin ASPAC
3  Botswana Dolphins
4  Burundi Dynamo
5  Cameroon FAP
Qualified
6  CAF Abeilles
Withdrew
7  Comoros Usoni
8  DR Congo ASB Mazembe
9  Ethiopia Hawassa City
10  Gabon Manga
11  Ghana Braves of Customs
12  Guinea SLAC
13  Ivory Coast ABC
14  Kenya KPA
15  Liberia NPA Pythons
16  Libya Al-Nasr Benghazi
No. Country Team Notes
17  Madagascar GNBC
Qualified
18  Malawi Brave Hearts
Withdrew
19  Mali AS Police
Qualified
20  Mozambique Ferroviário de Maputo
Qualified
21  Namibia Lions Club
22  Niger AS Nigelec
23  Rwanda Patriots
Qualified
24  Seychelles Beau Vallon Heat
25  South Africa Jozi Nuggets
26  South Sudan Cobra
27  Tanzania JKT
28  Uganda City Oilers
29  Zambia UNZA Pacers
30  Zimbabwe Mercenaries
31  Equatorial Guinea Virgen Maria de Africa

Teams

[edit]

Qualified teams

[edit]
Team Home city Qualified as Qualified on
Tunisia US Monastir Monastir, Tunisia Winners of the 2018–19 Championnat National A 1 May 2019
Egypt Zamalek Cairo, Egypt Winners of the 2018–19 Egyptian Super League 4 May 2019
Angola Petro de Luanda Luanda, Angola Winners of the 2018–19 Angolan Basketball League 25 May 2019
Morocco AS Salé Salé, Morocco Winners of the 2018–19 Division Excellence 30 May 2019
Senegal AS Douanes Dakar, Senegal Winners of the 2019 Nationale 1 season 23 October 2019
Nigeria Rivers Hoopers Port Harcourt, Nigeria Winners of the 2019 NBBF President Cup 17 November 2019[15]
Algeria GS Pétroliers Algiers, Algeria West Division winners 30 November 2019[16]
Cameroon FAP Yaoundé, Cameroon West Division runners-up 30 November 2019[16]
Mali AS Police Bamako, Mali West Division third place 1 December 2019[17]
Rwanda Patriots Kigali, Rwanda East Division winners 21 December 2019
Madagascar GNBC Antsirabe, Madagascar East Division runners-up 21 December 2019[18]
Mozambique Ferroviário de Maputo Maputo, Mozambique East Division third place 22 December 2019

Personnel and sponsorship

[edit]
Team Head coach Team captain
AS Douanes Senegal Pabi Gueye[19] Senegal Alkaly Ndour
AS Salé Morocco Said El Bouzidi[20] Morocco Zakaria El Masbahi
AS Police Mali Babacar Kanouté[19] Mali Badra Samaké[21]
FAP Cameroon Lazare Adingono[22] Cameroon Ebaku Akumenzoh
Ferroviário de Maputo Mozambique Milagre Macome[19] Mozambique Custódio Muchate
GNBC Madagascar Lova Navalona Raharidera[19] Madagascar Francis Mory
GS Pétroliers Algeria Sofiane Boulahia[23] Algeria Mustapha Adrar
Patriots United States Alan Major[24] Rwanda Aristide Mugabe
Petro de Luanda Brazil José Neto[25] Angola Leonel Paulo
Rivers Hoopers Nigeria Ogoh Odaudu[19] Nigeria Belema Alamin
US Monastir Tunisia Mounir Ben Slimane Tunisia Radhouane Slimane
Zamalek Spain Augustí Julbe[22] Egypt Haytham Elsaharty

Foreign players

[edit]

In line with league rules, each BAL team was allowed to have four foreign players on its roster, including only two non-African players.

Team
Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4
AS Douanes United States Chris Cokley[26] Egypt Hassan Attia[26] Libya Mohamed Sadi[26]
AS Salé United States Ra'Shad James[27] United States Terrell Stoglin[28] Central African Republic Johndre Jefferson[27]
AS Police Senegal Ibrahima Thomas[27] Nigeria Jawachi Nzeakor[29] United States Mylo Mitchell[27]
FAP Niger Abdoulaye Harouna[30] United States Marcus Thomas[30] United States Matthew Hezekiah
Ferroviário de Maputo Ivory Coast Adjehi Baru[31] Spain Álvaro Calvo Masa[31] United States Demarcus Holland[31] Democratic Republic of the Congo Myck Kabongo
GNBC United States Cameron Ridley[32]
GS Pétroliers
Patriots United States Jermaine Cole[33] Kenya Bush Wamukota[34] United States Brandon Costner[33]
Petro de Luanda United Kingdom Ryan Richards[35] United States Antwan Scott[27]
Rivers Hoopers Uganda Robinson Opong[36] United States Chris Daniels[37] United States Taren Sullivan[37]
US Monastir South Sudan Ater Majok[22] Lebanon Wael Arakji[22] United States Chris Crawford[27]
Zamalek Nigeria Chinemelu Elonu[38] Nigeria Michael Fakuade[39] United States Virgin Islands Walter Hodge[22] Ivory Coast Mouloukou Diabate[40]


Venues

[edit]
Location of venues of the 2020 BAL season.
Red: Sahara Conference; Yellow: Nile Conference; Grey: Playoffs & Finals.

On 1 August 2019, the NBA announced the seven host cities for the regular season.[7] Six cities in six countries would host the regular season games, with three assigned to each conference. The Kigali Arena in Kigali, Rwanda was announced as venue for the inaugural Final Four. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, it was later decided that the entire event was to be played at the Kigali Arena.[4]

Proposed venues of the inaugural BAL season before the format change
Arena Capacity Location
Dakar Arena
15,000
Dakar, Senegal
Cairo Stadium Indoor Halls Complex
16,500
Cairo, Egypt
Salle El Bouâzzaoui
2,000
Salé, Morocco
Kilamba Arena
12,270
Luanda, Angola
Kigali Arena (Final Four)
10,000
Kigali, Rwanda
National Stadium
3,000[41]
Lagos, Nigeria
Mohamed-Mzali Sports Hall
4,075
Monastir, Tunisia

Schedule

[edit]
Phase Round Draw date Games
Qualifying First round 9 October 2019 15 October – 3 November 2019
Elite 16 21 November 2019 26 November – 22 December 2019
Group phase 29 March 2021 16–24 May 2021
Playoffs Quarter-finals 26–27 May 2021
Semi-finals 29 May 2021
Final and third place 30 May 2021

Qualifying tournaments

[edit]
The official reveal of the Basketball Africa League logo during the qualifiers in Kigali

In the qualifying rounds, 32 teams from 32 countries participated in the West and East Division. The first round began 15 October and ended 3 November 2019, with sixteen teams advancing to the second round. The second-round games began 26 November and will end 22 December 2019, with six teams qualifying for the regular season.

Rosters

[edit]

Transactions

[edit]

Group phase

[edit]
BAL players wearing masks due to the measurements taken against COVID-19 at the tournament

The group phase began on 16 May 2021 and ended on 24 May 2021. Initially, it was planned that in the regular season, the twelve teams would play in two Conferences with six teams each. Each team would play five games, one against each opponent, inside its conference. The top three teams from each conference would advance to the Super 6.[42] The regular season would be played in six arenas divided over the African continent.[42]

The format was changed to a group phase as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was completely played at the Kigali Arena. In three groups of four each team plays the other one time and the first, second and best third-placed teams advance to the playoffs.[4]

Group A

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification USM PAT RIV GNB
1 Tunisia US Monastir 3 3 0 303 211 +92 6 Advance to playoffs 91–75
2 Rwanda Patriots (H) 3 2 1 236 223 +13 5 83–60 78–72
3 Nigeria Rivers Hoopers 3 1 2 210 251 −41 4 70–99
4 Madagascar GNBC 3 0 3 207 271 −64 3 66–113 69–80
Source: BAL
(H) Hosts

Group B

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification PDL ASS FAP POL
1 Angola Petro de Luanda 3 3 0 247 208 +39 6 Advance to playoffs 97–78 84–66
2 Morocco AS Salé 3 2 1 253 260 −7 5 87–84 88–79
3 Cameroon FAP 3 1 2 235 218 +17 4 64–66 87–65
4 Mali AS Police 3 0 3 210 259 −49 3
Source: BAL

Group C

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification ZAM FVM ASD GSP
1 Egypt Zamalek 3 3 0 254 181 +73 6 Advance to playoffs 71–55 97–64
2 Mozambique Ferroviário de Maputo 3 2 1 229 218 +11 5 88–74
3 Senegal AS Douanes 3 1 2 230 250 −20 4 62–86 94–76
4 Algeria GS Pétroliers 3 0 3 213 277 −64 3 73–86
Source: BAL

Ranking of third-placed teams

[edit]
Pos Grp Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 B Cameroon FAP 3 1 2 235 218 +17 4 Advance to playoffs
2 C Senegal AS Douanes 3 1 2 230 250 −20 4
3 A Nigeria Rivers Hoopers 3 1 2 210 251 −41 4
Source: BAL

Playoffs

[edit]

All eight qualified teams from the group stage were ranked and seeded to determine the match-ups. The play-offs games were played in a single-elimination format.[4][43] The playoffs began on 26 May and ended on 30 May 2021 with the 2021 BAL Finals.[44]

Bracket

[edit]
 
QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals
 
          
 
27 May
 
 
1
Tunisia US Monastir
86
 
29 May
 
8
Senegal AS Douanes
62
 
1
Tunisia US Monastir
87
 
27 May
 
4
Rwanda Patriots
46
 
4
Rwanda Patriots
73
 
30 May
 
5
Mozambique Ferroviário de Maputo
71
 
1
Tunisia US Monastir
63
 
26 May
 
2
Egypt Zamalek
76
 
2
Egypt Zamalek
82
 
29 May
 
7
Cameroon FAP
53
 
2
Egypt Zamalek
89
 
26 May
 
3
Angola Petro de Luanda
71 Third place game
 
3
Angola Petro de Luanda
79
 
30 May
 
6
Morocco AS Salé
72
 
4
Rwanda Patriots
68
 
 
3
Angola Petro de Luanda
97
 

Final standings

[edit]
Position Team Record
1 Egypt Zamalek 6–0
2 Tunisia US Monastir 5–1
3 Angola Petro de Luanda 5–1
4 Rwanda Patriots 3–3
5 Mozambique Ferroviário de Maputo 2–2
6 Morocco AS Salé 2–2
7 Cameroon FAP 1–3
8 Senegal AS Douanes 1–3
9 Nigeria Rivers Hoopers 1–2
10 Mali AS Police 0–3
11 Algeria GS Pétroliers 0–3
12 Madagascar GNBC 0–3

Awards

[edit]

Statistics

[edit]

The following were the statistical leaders in 2021 BAL season.[49]

Team statistic leaders

[edit]
Category Team Statistic
Points per game US Monastir 89.9
Rebounds per game FAP 42.0
Assists per game US Monastir 24.4
Steals per game 11.0
Blocks per game Rivers Hoopers 5.3
Turnovers per game GS Pétroliers 22.0
Fouls per game 25.7
FG% Zamalek 49.9%
FT% Ferroviário de Maputo 78.9%
3FG% US Monastir 36.1%

Controversies

[edit]

The BAL has faced criticism by The Guardian over its close ties with the Rwandan government in organising the league, using the league as a vehicle for sportswashing by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, pointing to ongoing repression and human rights abuses under his regime.[50]

On May 10, 2021, American rapper J. Cole signed a contract with the Rwanda-based Patriots.[51] In three games with the team, he scored five points, had three assists and five rebounds in 45 minutes of gameplay. Terrell Stoglin of AS Salé states about the signing: "For a guy who has so much money and has another career to just come here and average, like, one point a game and still get glorified is very disrespectful to the game. It's disrespectful to the ones who sacrificed their whole lives for this."[52]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "NBA, FIBA launching 12-team league in Africa; Barack Obama to have hands-on role". USA Today.
  2. ^ "NBA's Basketball Africa League to debut May 16 in Rwanda". ESPN. 29 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Basketball Africa League postpones start of inaugural season". NBA.com. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Basketball Africa League to tip off historic inaugural season in May". Basketball Africa League. 29 March 2021. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Egypt's Zamalek wins inaugural Basketball Africa League". NBA.com. 2021-07-01. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  6. ^ Reynolds, Tim. "NBA, FIBA announce plans for pro league in Africa". NBA.com. Retrieved 2019-02-17.
  7. ^ a b c "NBA's Basketball Africa League Reveals Seven Host Cities for Inaugural Season". Sports Video Group. August 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  8. ^ "FIBA Press Release - February 15, 2020: Basketball Africa League announces the 12 teams that will compete in inaugural season".
  9. ^ "BAL Conferences are drawn: Nile and Sahara Conference". 20 February 2020. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Basketball Africa League postpones start of inaugural season". NBA.com. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  11. ^ "BAL inaugural season postponed to 2021". The New Times. 12 November 2020.
  12. ^ "NBA's Basketball Africa League to debut May 16". ESPN.com. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  13. ^ "L'As Douanes représentera le Sénégal au Basketball Africa League". Senego.com. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  14. ^ "African clubs to compete in qualifying tournaments for the Basketball Africa League confirmed". FIBA Africa. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  15. ^ "River Hoopers win 2019 NBBF President's Cup, qualify for Basketball Africa League". 18 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  16. ^ a b "GSP, FAP qualify to the regular season of Basketball Africa League 2020". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
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  18. ^ "GNBC flair sparks life into Basketball Africa League Qualifiers". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
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  20. ^ "Who are the five new head coaches in the Basketball Africa League?". FIBA. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
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  22. ^ a b c d e "New signings dominate Basketball Africa League teams' latest moves". FIBA.basketball. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  23. ^ "GSP coach Boulahia: We will be outsiders at the BAL". 1 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  24. ^ "Basketball: Patriots sign new American coach Alan Major". The New Times Rwanda. 24 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  25. ^ "Angolan champions Petro de Luanda hire Brazilian Jose Neto as new head coach". FIBA. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  26. ^ a b c "L'AS Douanes se renforce et signent quatre recrues pour la Basketball Africa League". wiwsport (in French). 26 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
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  28. ^ "BAL - Basket-ball : Les clubs affûtent leurs armes pour la compétition | Africa Foot United". africafootunited.com (in French). Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  29. ^ Faye, Matt (27 April 2021). "LU alum Josh Nzeakor to play in NBA's new Basketball Africa League". Beaumont Enterprise. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  30. ^ a b "Cameroon's FAP out to conquer the continent at newly-launched Basketball Africa League". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  31. ^ a b c "Manso, Holland, Baru e Obgonna reforçam Ferroviário de Maputo na BAL". Lance (in European Portuguese). 27 April 2021. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  32. ^ "Basketball Africa League : Cameron DeVon Ridley en renfort de GNBC | NewsMada". Newsmada.com (in French). 26 April 2021. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  33. ^ a b "Patriots coach confirms rapper J. Cole on club's roster for Basketball Africa League". The New Times Rwanda. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  34. ^ "Wamukota joins Rwanda's Patriots with Basketball Africa League title in mind". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  35. ^ "Petro de Luanda já em Kigali para a BAL - ANGOP". Agência Angola Press. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  36. ^ "Basketball: Rivers Hoopers sign Ugandan star to replace injured Ezeli". Premium Times. 22 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  37. ^ a b "Rivers Hoopers add Chris Daniels and Taren Sullivan to BAL roster". Rivers Hoopers. 15 April 2021. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  38. ^ "Al Zamalek tabs Chinemelu Elonu for BAL". Afrobasket.com. 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  39. ^ "Michael Fakuade joins Zamalek for the BAL". The BAL Report. 17 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  40. ^ Abduljalil, Yusuf (17 April 2021). "Al Zamalek tabs Souleyman Diabate". Afrobasket.com. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  41. ^ "Lagos ready to take over Surulere National Stadium – Ambode". March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  42. ^ a b "NBA's Basketball Africa League Gets One Step Closer To Reality With Announcement Of Host Cities". Forbes. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  43. ^ "Rwanda to host NBA's Africa League final". The East African. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  44. ^ "BAL Announced Inaugural Playoffs Schedule". BAL. 24 May 2021. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  45. ^ a b "Zamalek are the champions of the inaugural Basketball Africa League". www.thebal.com. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  46. ^ @theBAL (4 June 2021). "The Manute Bol BAL Sportsmanship Award went to US Monastir's Makrem Ben Romdhane, for exemplifying the ideals of sportsmanship on the court with ethical behavior, fair play, and integrity" (Tweet). Retrieved 9 April 2022 – via Twitter.
  47. ^ "Hichem Benayad-Cherif Receives Inaugural Basketball Africa League Ubuntu Award". The Guardian Nigeria News. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  48. ^ @theBAL (4 June 2021). "The All-BAL First Team. ⭐" (Tweet). Retrieved 6 June 2021 – via Twitter.
  49. ^ "Basketball Africa League Best Individual Games - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  50. ^ "The NBA's alignment with Rwanda's repressive leader was headscratching". the Guardian. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  51. ^ ALBERTIE, QUENTON S. (April 28, 2021). "J. COLE TO SIGN DEAL WITH BASKETBALL AFRICA LEAGUE'S RWANDA PATRIOTS". Slam.
  52. ^ Zucker, Joseph. "J. Cole Playing in Basketball Africa League Is 'Disrespectful,' Terrell Stoglin Says". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 30 April 2022.