The Basketball Africa League (BAL) is gearing up for the 2025 Playoffs, which are set to begin this Friday, June 6, at the SunBet Arena in Time Square, Pretoria. Ahead of the action, the league hosted a Media Day on Wednesday, June 4, at the Maslow Hotel in Menlyn, where coaches and players shared insights on their playoff preparations and team dynamics.
During the media briefing, Kriol Star head coach Hugo Salgado and team captain Joel Almeida expressed confidence in their squad’s readiness for the playoffs. Despite facing challenges during the Nile and Sahara conferences, they remain optimistic about their performance in the Kalahari Conference. Many coaches agreed that the Sahara Conference was the most competitive in Season 5.
A standout presence at the event was Samkelo Cele, a former NBA Summer League player with the New York Knicks and a 2024 All-BAL First Team selection. Cele now plays for reigning champions Petro de Luanda, alongside head coach Sergio Valdelmillos and team captain Yanick Moreira (BWB Africa 2012).
Reflecting on his transition from the Cape Town Tigers to Petro de Luanda, Samkelo Cele expressed his excitement about joining the reigning BAL champions. “It feels amazing to be wearing the colors of Petro and representing them as a brand,” he said. “This team has a winning culture, and I’m proud to be part of it.”
Cele also emphasized his continued pride in representing his home country, regardless of the team he plays for.” Whether I’m playing for a South African team or any other team in the BAL, I still represent South Africa, and that’s what matters most,” he added. “I’m excited to play in front of a home crowd and go back-to-back.”
With the stage set and teams ready, fans can expect an electrifying playoff series as the top clubs from across the continent battle for the BAL championship title.
Teams Qualified for the 2025 BAL Playoffs are: Kriol Star (Cape Verde), FUS de Rabat (Morocco), Al Ahli (Libya), Al Ittihad (Egypt), Petro de Luanda (Angola), APR (Rwanda), US Monastir (Tunisia), and Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria)
