Petro de Luanda returns to the 2025 BAL with a retooled roster, fresh firepower, and title defence ambitions. With stars like Solo Diabaté and EJ Anosike but not Samkelo Cele, the Angolan champs face the Sahara gauntlet head-on.
Last Updated on
April 25, 2025
The champions are back. And this time, Petro de Luanda is coming into the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) with a slightly different face but the same relentless ambition: defend the title or bust.
After claiming their long-awaited BAL crown in 2024, the Angolan juggernauts now face the challenge of maintaining their throne—this time through the Sahara Conference, where new threats and rising contenders await. And they’ll have to do it without franchise legend Carlos Morais, the veteran sharpshooter whose deep-ball accuracy and leadership helped define Petro’s championship DNA.
If there’s a team that knows how to reload, it’s Petro. Two-time BAL champion Solo Diabaté is now expected to shoulder the leadership load. The Ivorian floor general, with his deep postseason résumé and knack for big moments, is the heartbeat of Petro’s new engine. His experience, defensive mindset, and ability to set the tone could be the X-factor in tight conference battles.
Helping Petro’s quest is a pair of major new signings that instantly elevate the squad. First is EJ Anosike, the Nigerian-American forward known for his freakish athleticism and high-motor style. Anosike’s ability to stretch the floor with his jumper and punish defenders at the rim gives Petro a new dynamic in their frontcourt. His presence brings versatility, energy, and highlights waiting to happen.
One of the most buzzed-about names linked to Petro de Luanda ahead of the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Sahara Conference was South African star Samkelo Cele. After a breakout 2024 campaign with the Cape Town Tigers—where he earned All-BAL First Team and All-Defensive Team honours—Cele was widely expected to bolster Petro’s title defence in Luanda. Sources close to the deal confirmed it was a done move.
However, in a late twist, Cele will not be joining the Angolan champions—at least not yet.
His current club, Real Valladolid, who are battling to avoid relegation in Spain’s second division (Primera FEB), refused to release the versatile wing. Sitting just above the drop zone, Valladolid recently changed their stance, indicating Cele will only be available once the team secures their place in the league and survives relegation. With survival on the line—three teams face relegation to the Segunda FEB—the Spanish outfit is holding on to one of its most impactful players.
Petro will have to press forward without the dynamic South African, whose combination of defensive grit, late-game heroics, and leadership would have significantly boosted the Sahara gauntlet.
The question now is, can Petro de Luanda run it back? They have the pedigree. They have the pieces. But the path to the throne runs through the Sahara—and it won’t be easy. Petro's goal is clear: survive, advance, and defend the crown. The title defense starts now.
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