History-making Rwandan President Paul Kagame was all smiles during this unusual high-profile victory for his country’s favored sons of basketball above. APR overpowered Made By Ball (MBB) in their BAL season opener, winning convincingly 103-81. This win represents APR’s second successive win in a row during this present season. It’s a refreshing contrast to the tough losses that President Kagame has experienced during BAL seasons past.
Historically, the leagues advanced at a much lower pace, and in the past, Kagame has seen his national teams underperform on all levels. This season has gotten off to a great start, as APR is 2-0 after winning both their first games. The team’s performance has sparked hope among fans and officials alike as they look forward to more successes in the ongoing tournament.
Aside from tipping off the BAL’s playoff schedule, Pretoria will host its inaugural BAL playoffs. This is a big departure from Kigali, which has hosted the last four playoff seasons. Kigali will be the location for the playoffs in 2026 and 2028. That ensures the city will remain an important base for African basketball.
That past match was lethal with APR taking full advantage of a third-quarter meltdown by MBB. APR showed what a veteran and resilient team they are, particularly in the second half. As APR’s coach, Sam Vincent said, it was that seasoning that made the difference. As far as their comeback, Brown praised the team for sending a message by overcoming a bad first half.
“It was just letting guys know that we needed to go get the glass, we needed physicality, but that we needed to just piece the game together,” said James Maye Jr., reflecting on the adjustments made during halftime.
Youssoupha Ndoye was the star of the show in the contest. He put in a wonderful shift immediately after the departure of Aliou Diarra. With 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 steals, Ndoye showed just how important he is to the team’s success. His great shot stopping and distribution were key when the match was in the balance, further enhancing his growing reputation.
APR opened the second half with a blistering 8-0 run. With this energetic outburst they rallied and regained the advantage, and their energy carried them the duration of the match. That decisive momentum quickly shifted, then dramatically rattled, everything to MBB’s crushing advantages. It was their second loss in a row after falling behind Al Ahli Tripoli 87-77.
“Despite their challenges, MBB’s coach James Maye Jr. remained optimistic about his team’s development. “I think our guys played better. Our focus was to get better every time we play. This is a new team – we haven’t played a lot together. Every time we get onto the court, we want to see improvement,” he stated.
As this BAL season continues, President Kagame’s attendance at these matches highlights his commitment to developing Rwandan basketball. The positive start to this season is a hopeful sign for fans who have endured frustrating defeats in prior years.
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