Al Ahli Tripoli continued their unbeaten run in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Season 5 with a commanding 104-91 victory over Kenya’s Nairobi City Thunder, marking their fourth consecutive win in the group stage. Once again, it was their star point guard, Jean Jacques Boissy, who stole the spotlight.
Boissy delivered another standout performance, scoring 26 points and anchoring both ends of the court. As a member of the Season 3 Defensive Team and a consistent starter, Boissy has been a force throughout the tournament. Against City Thunder, he made BAL history by becoming the first player to hit 23 three-pointers in a group stage, surpassing the previous record of 22 set by Rolly Fula Nganga in 2024. The Congolese sharpshooter had set that mark while playing for Bangui Sporting Club.
Boissy’s shooting stats on the night were strong: 3-of-8 from beyond the arc, 6-of-11 on two-point attempts, and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. With this performance, he not only led Al Ahli Tripoli in scoring for the fourth time in the tournament but also raised his total points tally to 111, an impressive average of 27.75 points per game.
On the other side of the tournament bracket, APR BBC faced another tough loss. The Rwandan side was narrowly edged out 94-88 by Made by Ball Basketball South Africa’s rising giants, who secured their second victory of the campaign. APR’s struggles continue to be compounded by the absence of key big man Aliou Diarra. His presence in the paint, both offensively and defensively, has been sorely missed, and his absence continues to be a defining factor in APR’s recent dip in form.
As the group stage progresses, Al Ahli Tripoli are emerging as serious contenders, led by the red-hot Boissy, who is not only setting records but also inspiring a new standard of excellence in the BAL. Meanwhile, APR BBC will need to regroup quickly and find a way to compensate for Diarra’s absence if they hope to stay in contention.
