The Basketball Africa League (BAL) Nile Conference witnessed an intense battle on Sunday, May 18, 2025, as APR Kigali faced off against MBB South Africa at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.
The game tipped off with APR’s Ntore Habimana electrifying the crowd with a deep three-pointer right from the start. However, MBB’s Pieter Prinsloo quickly responded, setting the tone for a back-and-forth first quarter. The lead changed hands four times, and the score was tied on four occasions, but MBB edged ahead 26-23 by the end of the first quarter—marking their first quarter win in BAL history.
In the second quarter, MBB came out firing, with Prinsloo knocking down two consecutive three-pointers, pushing their lead to eight points. Not accepting defeat, APR, fueled by the roaring home crowd, clawed their way back, reclaiming the lead before halftime. Despite MBB’s resilience, they entered the break with a narrow 47-45 advantage.
Whatever APR’s head coach James Edward Maye Jr said in the locker room worked wonders, as his team quickly erased the two-point deficit and surged ahead in the third quarter. Their aggressive offensive play and defensive pressure overwhelmed MBB, who struggled to keep up.
The final quarter was all APR, as they continued their dominance, extending their lead to 103-81 by the final buzzer.
Their team will face Al Ahli Tripoli on May 20, 2025, in a crucial matchup that could determine their playoff fate. While MBB, now under pressure after two consecutive losses, must bounce back in their upcoming game against Nairobi City Thunder on May 22, 2025.
Photos by Shema Innocent
