HISTORY: Debutants RSSB Tigers crowned BAL 2026 champions

RSSB Tigers made history on Sunday at BK Arena, becoming the first Rwandan team to win the Basketball Africa League (BAL) title after edging Petro de Luanda 90–88 in a thrilling 2026 final. Backed by a passionate home crowd and watched by President Paul Kagame, the Tigers produced a remarkable comeback after a difficult start to deny Petro de Luanda a second BAL championship. The victory also marked RSSB Tigers’ second win over the Angolan giants this season. After struggling in the opening quarter, Craig Randall took control of the game in the second period and finished with a game-high 33 points to lead the hosts to a historic triumph. Aboubacar Pedro Gakou paced Petro de Luanda with 28 points, but the 2024 champions suffered a major setback when he fouled out late in the fourth quarter. Petro stormed out of the gates with a 7–0 run, forcing Tigers coach Henry Mwinuka to call a timeout just two minutes and eight seconds into the contest. The Angolans continued their dominance, extending their advantage to 20 unanswered points before RSSB finally got on the scoreboard. After missing his first four attempts, Randall broke the drought with a lay-up for the Tigers’ opening basket. Gakou was the driving force behind Petro’s fast start, pouring in 15 points in the first quarter as the Angolan side built a commanding 27–16 lead. Randall ignited the comeback early in the second quarter, knocking down his first three-pointer to cut the deficit to 28–19. Moments later, he buried another from beyond the arc to make it 28–22, sending the packed BK Arena into a frenzy. The atmosphere reached another level when the fan-favourite guard drained a third three-pointer to give the Tigers their first lead of the game at 37–35. The crowd erupted into chants and celebration as momentum swung decisively in favour of the home side. Petro coach Sergio Valdeomillos immediately called a timeout in an effort to steady his team. The situation became even more complicated for the Angolan champions when Gakou, Petro’s only player in double figures at the time with 20 points, picked up his third foul. Valdeomillos was forced to take him out to avoid the risk of an early disqualification. Growing in confidence with every possession, the Tigers closed the half on a high note and carried a 42–37 lead into the break. Petro’s 13 turnovers, mounting foul trouble and defensive adjustments were likely major points of discussion in the locker room. While their rotating defence had served them well throughout the season, it faltered when it mattered most. For Randall, the night capped an extraordinary BAL campaign. Having already etched his name into the league’s record books with a 54-point performance—the highest-scoring game in BAL history—he delivered another masterclass to guide the Tigers to their maiden continental crown in front of the club’s home fans and his wife Sarrah Marie in particular. His outstanding season was further recognised after the final when FIBA Africa President Annibal Manave presented him with the 2026 BAL Most Valuable Player award.

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HISTORY: Debutants RSSB Tigers crowned BAL 2026 champions