Game Report: Al Ahly Ly dominates the Cape Town Tigers in an electrifying 87-76 victory, kicking off the 2024 BAL playoffs with a statement win! Dive into the standout performances and strategic plays that set the tone for the postseason.
Last Updated on
May 25, 2024
Fanya Nkengasong
Staff Writer
Here we go—the BAL Season 4 playoffs are finally here. The winners from the first round advance to the Final Four, after which the last two remaining clubs will battle it out in this year's ultimate African club championship game.
The first match, between Al Ahly Benghazi of Libya and Cape Town Tigers of South Africa, appeared one-sided on paper, with Benghazi seen as the clear favourite of many critics. The Libyan team is strengthened by the arrival of Wilson Golden, whose performance we eagerly anticipate.
Apart from this addition, the team has not changed much, with Solo Diabaté at the helm and the South Sudanese duo of Majok Deng and Lual Acuil. On the other side, the Cape Town Tigers, who qualified narrowly on goal average at the expense of Bangui, seem unlikely to pose a significant threat.
This was evident in the first quarter, with the score at 9-0 after just three minutes. However, the South African club rallied to lead by three points (20-17) with three minutes remaining in the first quarter. They even went on to win the period by four points (25-21).
It was an ideal first quarter for the South Africans, who capitalised on fast breaks to score eleven points. This advantage quickly dissipated in the second quarter as the Libyan team became more effective at rebounding. Consequently, they took the lead at the break (47-41).
In the third quarter, the gap quickly widened to sixteen points thanks to Golden, who scored 15 points in his debut, Murphy, who scored 13 points, and the evergreen Deng, who scored 11 points.
Finally, the Libyan club secured a decisive victory in the third period. Trailing 72-58, it was difficult for Cape Town to make a comeback. Despite their best efforts in the final quarter, which they won by three points (18-15), the Cape Town Tigers lost 87-76, giving Al Ahly of Libya their first victory.
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