American point guard Obadiah Noel has said that he has unfinished business as he returns to APR ahead of BAL 2025. Noel, 25, starred APR in BAL 2024 edition in the Sahara Conference held in Dakar, Senegal, before he unfortunately suffered an injury that side-lined him as the team was knocked out of the tournament. APR fans still remember his stellar performances in Dakar, among which was the buzzer-beater he scored against Tunisian giants US Monastir, giving APR an important win. His return to the army side came at a time the team was finishing its final roster for BAL 2025. He is joined by three other additions namely Rwandan forwards Dylan Schommer and Sano Rutatika, and American small forward Dane Miller Jr. “I'm here for Season 5 of BAL. The reason I'm here is because I feel like I have unfinished business from last year. So I'm looking forward to it,” he said in an interview after joining the team. Noel, nicknamed “Mutabazi” for his heroics during BAL 2024, is a dynamic guard known for his strong offensive and defensive capabilities. Standing at 1.93 meters, he brings top-tier experience from the NBA G League, where he played for teams such as the Indiana Mad Ants and the Westchester Knicks. Meanwhile, Siwss-based Rwandan star Schommer, who can operate both as a forward and a center, will be making he debut at BAL following his move to APR. He said, I am really excited to play and I want to see everybody come out and support.” APR were placed in the Nile Conference which tips off on May 17and ends on May 25 in Kigali. They will compete against Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli, South Africa’s Made by Basketball, and Kenya’s Nairobi City Thunder. In general, BAL 2025 features 12 teams pooled in three conferences in the regular season including the Nile Conference, Sahara Conference, and Kalahari Conference. The first two conferences have already played, and now the teams from the Nile Conference are arriving in Kigali this week to compete at BK Arena.
