APR Rwanda Set Records, Clinch Third Place at 2025 BAL

APR Rwanda Make History with Record-Breaking Third Place at 2025 BAL

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Rwandan powerhouse APR shattered multiple records en route to a stunning 123-90 victory over Egyptian giants Al-Ittihad, clinching third place at the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL).

In a game that rewrote the BAL record books, APR didn’t just win, they established new records.

An Unthinkable Upset

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Very few saw this coming. Al-Ittihad entered the third-place playoff as one of the tournament’s juggernauts. They had dominated the Kalahari Conference, storming through all six group games unbeaten in fine fettle. Their playoff run was equally formidable, dismantling Al Ahly Tripoli in the seeding round before edging out FUS Rabat in a tightly-contested quarterfinal. Their only blemish? A semifinal loss to reigning champions Petro de Luanda.

Yet on the day it mattered most, APR delivered a masterpiece. A blend of precision, pace, and pure shooting fury sent shockwaves through Pretoria and the continent.

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A Game of Records

Commentators were left scrambling as the historic numbers poured in. Firstly, the Most Points Scored by a Team in a BAL Game established thanks to APR’s 123 points set a new high mark, eclipsing the 115 scored by Al Ahly Tripoli earlier this season in the Nile Conference.

The 213 total points between the two teams marked the highest-scoring game in league history establishing a new record for the most combined points in a BAL game.

APR drained an astounding 26 triples, redefining the art of long-range shooting on Africa’s biggest stage to establish the most 3-point field goals by a team.

Most 3-Point Field Goals by a Player: Leading the charge in the three point shooting spree was Axel Mpoyo, who was simply unplayable. In under 10 minutes of floor time, he knocked down 10 three-pointers—another BAL record for the most 3-point field goals by a player.

And beyond the stats, APR became the first team from East & Central Africa to finish on the BAL podium, a milestone achievement that marks a turning point in the region’s basketball story.

After the game, APR's Axel Mpoyo, still glowing from his elite three-point shooting display, summed it up perfectly.

“We wanted to come out fast, we wanted to come out hard and take the third-place win. We were disappointed with the last game, and this was our way of bouncing back.” APR's Axel Mpoyo.

The Grand Finale Awaits

With bronze now sealed, all eyes turn to Saturday’s much-anticipated 2025 BAL final.

Petro de Luanda, the reigning champs, will take on Al Ahly Tripoli, christened “Team of 100” for their explosive offense, having scored over 100 points in four group games. If the third-place match was any indication, the final could be one for the history books as well.

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[Photography Courtesy of The BAL/X-BALL]

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