In a masterclass of precision, power, and purpose, APR Basketball Club etched its name into continental basketball history on Friday night, becoming the first team from East and Central Africa to win a medal at the Basketball Africa League (BAL). The Rwandan champions overwhelmed Egypt’s Al Ittihad 123-90 to finish third in Pretoria's SunBet Arena.
From the opening tip-off, APR played with clear intent. Despite missing 2023 BAL MVP Nuni Omot due to injury, the Lions exploded out of the gates with a 14-0 run ignited by Chasson Randle, Ntore Habimana, and Aliou Diarra. By the time Al Ittihad finally got on the scoreboard through a Deng Deng three-pointer, the Rwandan side was already in full control. The eventual bronze medallists closed the first quarter with a commanding 38-19 lead and never looked back.
Axel Mpoyo’s sharpshooting lit up the second quarter as APR continued to assert dominance on both ends of the floor. Ittihad struggled to respond, leaning heavily on Mido Taha as their offense stalled. By halftime, Rwandan champs had built an insurmountable 74-34 lead—an astonishing 40-point margin against a side that had gone undefeated until the semifinals.
Al Ittihad showed flashes of defiance in the third quarter, with Ahmed Aly Mohamed Ahmed pushing the pace, but frustration soon set in. Deng Deng fouled out, and APR’s composure remained unshaken. Another buzzer-beater punctuated a quarter that ended with APR cruising 91-56.
The fourth quarter became a coronation. APR drained an eye-popping 26 of 46 three-point attempts—setting a new BAL record for most three-pointers made by a team in a single game. The standout performer? Axel Mpoyo, whose ten three-pointers also set a new individual league record. By the time the final buzzer sounded, APR had racked up 123 points—shattering the previous BAL scoring record of 115 set by Al Ahli Tripoli during the Nile Conference qualifiers.
This wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. APR’s emphatic performance earned them not only the bronze medal but also the distinction of being the highest-placed Rwandan team in BAL history.
The day also brought well-deserved individual recognition. APR’s Aliou Diarra and Obadiah Noel were named to the All-BAL Defensive First Team, alongside Jean-Jacques Boissy (Ahli Tripoli), Caleb Agada (Ahli Tripoli), and Teafale Lenard Jr. (MBB)—a nod to APR’s relentless work ethic on both ends of the floor.
With the 2025 BAL final set to tip off on Saturday between Angola’s Petro de Luanda and Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli, APR can now step aside with pride. Their unforgettable run, capped by a record-breaking night in Pretoria, has not only raised the bar for Rwandan basketball—it has elevated the entire East African region.