The 2022 BAL Playoffs was the second edition of the playoffs of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and was the concluding tournament of the 2022 BAL season. The playoffs began on 21 May 2022 and ended on 28 May 2022 with the Finals. For a second consecutive season, all playoffs games were played at the BK Arena[a] in Kigali, Rwanda.

2022 BAL Playoffs
Tournament details
Venue(s)BK Arena[a], Kigali, Rwanda
Dates21 – 28 May 2021
Teams8
Final positions
ChampionsTunisia US Monastir (1st title)
Runner-upAngola Petro de Luanda
Third placeEgypt Zamalek
Fourth placeCameroon FAP
Tournament statistics
Matches played8
← 2021
2023 →

The official schedule was announced on 8 February 2022.[2]

Quarterfinals

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All times are in the local Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Petro de Luanda vs. AS Salé

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Petro de Luanda and AS Salé were meeting each other in the BAL for the third time. It was a re-match of the 2021 quarterfinals that was won by Petro. Petro de Luanda scored 19 three-pointers on its way to a blowout against Salé, leading by as much as 28 points in the third quarter.[3]

21 May 2022 Petro de Luanda   102–89   AS Salé Kigali
14:30 Scoring by quarter: 20–16, 30–19, 30–17, 22–37
Pts: Morais 27
Rebs: Gonçalves 10
Asts: Dundão 5
PIR: Gonçalves 27
Boxscore Pts: Harouna 20
Rebs: Dramé 13
Asts: Lahrichi, Stoglin 3
PIR: Dramé 28
Arena: Kigali Arena
Attendance: 1,950
Referees: JD Ralls, Kalume Tonton Banza, Marie Leslie Cherubin

REG vs. FAP

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The two teams never faced each other before. In a record attendance of 7,576, FAP surprisingly beat REG as the host team had 25 turnovers in the game. FAP led by as much as 52–39 in the third quarter, before REG cut back the deficit in the final quarter. Olivier Shyaka scored a three-pointer with 4:30 minutes left to bring FAP's lead to one.[4]

21 May 2022 REG   63–66   FAP Kigali
18:00 Scoring by quarter: 17–23, 14–13, 17–19, 15–11
Pts: Thomas 23
Rebs: Nshobozwabyosenumukiza 11
Asts: Nshobozwabyosenumukiza 8
PIR: Thomas 17
Boxscore Pts: Morman 14
Rebs: Byers 10
Asts: Keumoe, Morman 3
PIR: Byers 17
Arena: Kigali Arena
Attendance: 7,576
Referees: Brent Haskil, Yann Vezo Davidson, Sara Elsharnouby

US Monastir vs. Cape Town Tigers

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The two teams have never faced each other before. Monastir defeated Cape Town comfortably, never trailing in the game. With a margin of 39 points, it was the largest win in the BAL season.[5]

22 May 2022 US Monastir   106–67   Cape Town Tigers Kigali
13:30 Scoring by quarter: 22–18, 22–15, 27–26, 35–8
Pts: Dixon 23
Rebs: Majok 9
Asts: Five players 5
PIR: Dixon 24
Boxscore Pts: Early 15
Rebs: Prinsloo 8
Asts: Kabongo 5
PIR: Prinsloo 18
Arena: Kigali Arena
Attendance: 718
Referees: Hortensia Sanchez-Carrizales, Wael Ibrahim Mostafa, Mahamadou Diallo

Zamalek vs. SLAC

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The two teams have never faced each other before. SLAC made its playoffs debut without its top scorer from the group phase, Chris Crawford, who signed in Syria. SLAC's rebounding leader Chris Obekpa missed the game due to injury.[6]

22 May 2022 Zamalek   66–49   SLAC Kigali
18:00 Scoring by quarter: 13–11, 20–10, 20–15, 13–13
Pts: Kejo 14
Rebs: Kejo 12
Asts: Strawberry 4
PIR: Kejo 16
Boxscore Pts: Barry 13
Rebs: Miller Jr. 14
Asts: Keita, Miller Jr. 19
PIR: Keita, Miller Jr. 19
Arena: Kigali Arena
Attendance: 1,833
Referees: Tyler Ricks, Antonio Bernardo, Jean Sauveur Ruhammiriza

Semifinals

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Petro de Luanda vs. FAP

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The teams played each other before in the group phase of the 2021 season, with Petro winning the game 66–64.

25 May 2022 Petro de Luanda   88–74   FAP Kigali
18:00 Scoring by quarter: 22–13, 24–22, 23–12, 19–27
Pts: Dundão 18
Rebs: Moreira 9
Asts: Domingos 7
PIR: Dundão 23
Boxscore Pts: Tsangue 13
Rebs: Tametong Toko 7
Asts: Morman 6
PIR: Tametong Toko 13
Arena: Kigali Arena
Referees: Tyler Ricks, Sara Elsharnouby, Mahamadou Diallo

US Monastir vs. Zamalek

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The game was a re-match of the 2021 BAL Finals, in which Zamalek won the inaugural season title.

25 May 2022 US Monastir   88–81   Zamalek Kigali
21:30 Scoring by quarter: 16–22, 19–18, 29–18, 24–23
Pts: Slimane 21
Rebs: Majok 9
Asts: Dixon, Coles Jr. 4
PIR: Dixon 20
Pts: McKinney 26
Rebs: Diogu, Mahmoud 9
Asts: Strawberry 5
PIR: McKinney 25
Arena: BK Arena
Referees: JD Ralls, Antonio Bernardo, Yann Vezo Davidson

Third place game

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27 May 2022 Zamalek   97–74   FAP Kigali
18:00 Scoring by quarter: 19–11, 23–18, 23–22, 32–23
Pts: Strawberry 20
Rebs: Kejo 15
Asts: McKinney 10
PIR: McKinney, Strawberry 22
Boxscore Pts: Minlend Jr., Wangmene 17
Rebs: Eyaga Bidias, Wangmene 7
Asts: Almeida 4
PIR: Wangmene 16
Arena: BK Arena
Referees: B Haskill, Jean Sauveur Ruhamiriza, Tonton Banza

Finals

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28 May 2022 Petro de Luanda   72–83   US Monastir Kigali
18:00 CAT Scoring by quarter: 17–18, 23–15, 19–24, 13–26
Pts: Gonçalves 28
Rebs: Moreira 7
Asts: Gonçalves 4
PIR: Gonçalves 27
Boxscore
Pts: Dixon, Lahyani 21
Rebs: Lahyani 10
Asts: Dixon 6
PIR: Lahyani 24
Arena: BK Arena
Attendance: 10,000
Referees: Hortensia Sanchez-Carrizales, Wael Ibrahim Mostafa, Marie Leslie Cherubin


Elevate Showcase

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The BAL organised a showcase game between Elevate program players of the NBA Academy Africa and the Rwandan national under-23 team.

27 May 2022 Rwanda Under-23   53–72 NBA Academy Africa Kigali
21:30 Scoring by quarter: 19–19, 15–19, 7–21, 12–13
Pts: Uwitonze 17
Rebs: Turatsinze 8
Asts: De Dieu Umuhoza 6
PIR: Uwitonze, Nkundwa 12
Boxscore Pts: Sane 21
Rebs: Maluach, Chinyelu 10
Asts: Mbaye, Camara 5
PIR: Chinyelu 22
Arena: BK Arena
Referees: Sarah Elsharnouby, Yann Davidson, F. Bernardo

Notes

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  1. ^ a b The BK Arena was named the Kigali Arena as the name was changed during the season. On May 24, 2022, the arena's name was changed to the BK Arena after a six-year sponsorship deal worth 7 billion RF with the Bank of Kigali.[1]

References

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  1. ^ "Kigali Arena rebrands to BK Arena". The New Times | Rwanda. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Basketball Africa League announces 12 teams and game schedule for league's 2022 season tipping off March 5". NBA.com: NBA Communications. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Petro's 19 3-pts sink AS Salé in critical Quarter-Finals clash". The BAL. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  4. ^ "FAP stun hosts REG to advance to the Semi-Finals". The BAL. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Dixon powers US Monastir in comprehensive win over Cape Town". The BAL. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Zamalek look to extend BAL winning streak in game against SLAC". The BAL. Retrieved 22 May 2022.