The Kalahari Conference of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) that concluded in Pretoria, South Africa, will be remembered as one of the most entertaining and thrilling moments since the league inception in 2021. Six teams from six different nations competed in the Kalahari Conference, battling for the four spots which were up for grabs for the playoffs scheduled in Kigali in May. ALSO READ: Nairobi City Thunder end Tigers’ conference unbeaten run There were many dramatic events in Pretoria, including long-standing records broken, a newcomer causing a surprise by advancing to the post-season, and thousands of fans making their presence felt throughout. In the end: Debutants RSSB Tigers of Rwanda finished top of the conference with a 4–1 record, as did Petro de Luanda. The Tigers won the conference thanks to their head-to-head win over Petro. The RSSB Tigers (4–1), Petro de Luanda (4–1), Al Ahly Ly (3–2) and Dar City (2–3) qualified for the 2026 BAL Playoffs, which are scheduled to take place next month in Kigali, Rwanda. Meanwhile, Nairobi City Thunder (2–3) and the Johannesburg Giants (0–5) were eliminated. RSSB Tigers' shooting guard, Craig Randall II, set a new BAL scoring record with 54 points in the 104–92 win against Dar City. In the same game, the American set a new record for three-pointers by successfully making 11 of his long-range shots. Al Ahly Ly guard Damion Baugh set a new BAL assists record with 18 in a 118–97 win over Dar City. The 215 points scored in the Al Ahly Ly vs Dar City game (final score 118–97) are now the most ever scored in a BAL game. For the first time in BAL history, 10 games saw a team score 100 points or more. Fans consistently packed the SunBet Arena throughout the 15-game conference. The BAL celebrated its 200th game since its inception in 2021, with a match between Petro de Luanda and the Nairobi City Thunder. As of April 6, 2026, Childe Dundao of Petro de Luanda holds the BAL record for the most minutes played in the league, at 1,073.55. Al Ahly's point guard, Damion Baugh, achieved the first triple-double in BAL history. This feat was achieved on April 4, in Ahly’s 110–72 victory against Dar City. Baugh achieved double figures in three key categories, finishing with 11 points, 10 assists, and 11 rebounds.
