Dundao and Lukeny Shine as Petro Advance to BAL Final
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The Angolan giants secured their place in the championship game after a hard-fought semifinal clash that showcased experience, resilience and star power on both sides. The result also marks Petro’s sixth consecutive BAL semifinal appearance, a remarkable record that continues to underline their consistency on the continental stage.
The game started with Al Ahly’s Majok Deng scoring the first basket of the night. The Egyptian side settled into rhythm quickly and controlled most of the opening quarter. Donovan Williams, also representing Al Ahly, proved influential early on, responding almost immediately whenever Petro threatened to gain momentum. Each time Petro drew level, Williams found a way to restore Al Ahly’s advantage, including a crucial steal-and-score sequence that kept his side ahead.
Petro nearly stole the quarter through a late effort from Moreira, but the buzzer denied him as Al Ahly edged the opening period 24-23.
The second quarter brought more intensity as Petro tightened defensively through Peter Jok, while Childe Dundao continued to show why he was crowned the 2024 AfroBasket MVP. Fast on his feet and fearless in attack, Dundao played a major role in keeping Petro within touching distance.
Raphael Putney also began finding confidence offensively, displaying flashes of the quality that once earned him NBA G League recognition. Meanwhile, veteran guard Chasson Randall showcased his experience throughout the half. Randall arrived at the BAL with an impressive résumé that includes 119 NBA appearances, a EuroLeague title with Real Madrid, previous BAL experience with APR Rwanda and 90 G League games.
At halftime, Al Ahly held a 48-43 lead, with Donovan Williams starring for the Egyptian side while Lukeny Gonçalves emerged as Petro’s key performer.
The second half belonged increasingly to Petro. Lukeny immediately announced his intentions with a three-pointer to open the third quarter before adding a quick layup moments later. It proved to be his best scoring performance of the BAL season and could not have come at a better time.
Despite strong defensive work and continued scoring from Williams, Petro gradually built momentum through improved ball movement and perimeter shooting. Putney stepped up significantly after a quieter previous outing in which he managed only seven points, knocking down important three-pointers to keep Petro in contention.
Although Al Ahly still led 70-65 at the end of the third quarter, the momentum had started shifting toward the Angolan champions.
The final quarter delivered high drama. Al Ahly maintained their lead for much of the period before Petro finally equalised and grabbed a two-point advantage with seven minutes remaining. Free throws from Williams kept Al Ahly alive, while Gakou added a big three-pointer during a tense stretch.
The victory sends Petro de Luanda into their fourth BAL final in six seasons and confirms another historic milestone for the league, for the first time in BAL history, no North African team will feature in the final.
Petro will now face Rwanda’s RSSB Tigers in Sunday’s championship game. Interestingly, RSSB Tigers defeated both Petro and Al Ahly during the Kalahari Conference earlier in the season, setting up what promises to be a thrilling final.
The Tigers’ impressive run continues to surprise many, but Petro’s experience in big moments may prove vital as they chase another BAL title and the championship rings.
Following the semifinal, Lukeny Gonçalves was named MVP after his standout performance led Petro to yet another final appearance.
Meanwhile, the third-place playoff will see Al Ahly Libya take on Al Ahly Egypt in an all-North African battle for bronze.
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