BAL 2023 – Egyptian side Al Ahly claim championship over AS Douanes

BAL 2023 – Egyptian side Al Ahly claim championship over AS Douanes

Rwanda – Egyptian side Al Ahly defeated AS Douanes 80-65 in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) final on Saturday in Kigali. Spanish coach Agusti Julbe became the first coach to win the championship twice after having won it Zamalek in 2021.

The Egyptians had to wait for the third quarter to inflict a final blow to beat AS Douanes 80-65 to win the 2023 BAL title. 

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Omot and Zahran did the bulk of the first quarter scoring for Ahly as they raced into a 17-10 lead, keeping star Douanes guard Jean-Jacques Boissy quiet by throwing a red wave of bodies in his path.

However, Boissy became more influential in the second quarter, drawing fouls and dictating the game as Douanes kept the pressure on Ahly. The pressure paid of as Pape Diop levelled the scores at 33-33, but before half-time, Ahly embarked on a five-point scoring run to take a 38-33 lead into the break.

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Ahly led 63-46 heading into the final quarter and started that on the front foot, leaving Douanes with a mountain to climb.

Al Ahly concluded their 2023 BAL campaign with an overall record of 7-1. Al Ahly will represent Africa at the next edition of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup. 

South Sudan international Nuni Omot was named the 2023 Hakeem Olajuwon BAL  MVP. Douanes coach Mamadou Gueye was named BAL coach of the year.

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Aliou Diarra of the Stade Malien was named the BAL Season 3 Defensive Player of the Year. Nuni Omot

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