BAL Playoffs 2026: RSSB Tigers Make History, Capture First - Ever Continental Title

The RSSB Tigers etched their names into African basketball history on Sunday by winning the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL) championship. Backed by a passionate home crowd at Kigali’s BK Arena, the Rwandan side rallied from a massive early deficit to defeat Petro de Luanda 90-88, becoming the first Rwandan club to lift the BAL trophy.

The final appeared headed in Petro de Luanda’s direction from the opening minutes. The Angolan powerhouse, which was seeking its second BAL title and third consecutive finals victory, stormed out to a remarkable 20-0 start and led 27-16 at the end of the first quarter. However, the Tigers gradually clawed their way back into the contest, feeding off their defensive intensity and the energy of the home crowd.

The comeback was fueled by a spectacular performance from Craig Randall II, who once again delivered on the biggest stage. After a slow start, the American guard caught fire in the second quarter and finished with a game-high 33 points, knocking down several crucial three-pointers and leading the Tigers’ offensive charge. His scoring explosion proved decisive as RSSB completed one of the most memorable comebacks in BAL Finals history.

Petro de Luanda fought until the final buzzer behind a dominant outing from Aboubacar Gakou, who recorded 28 points and 12 rebounds, while Chasson Randle added 17 points. Despite controlling much of the game, the Angolan champions were unable to withstand the Tigers' late surge and fell just short of securing another continental crown.

The victory caps a dream BAL debut season for RSSB Tigers, who become the first Rwandan team and the sixth different franchise to win the competition. For Petro de Luanda, the defeat marks a heartbreaking end to a campaign that saw them reach their fourth BAL Final in six seasons and their third consecutive championship game.