For RSSB Tigers, it’s a major milestone after being the first Rwandan team to go the BAL finals, after eliminating Egypt’s Al Ahly 106-97 in a thrilling semifinal at BK Arena on Wednesday.

Petro de Luanda qualified for finals after winning 94-88 against Libya’s Al Ahly Ly on Thursday night.

Founded in 2019, RSSB Tigers are the underdogs in this matchup, having not won yet the Rwanda Basketball League but lifted the Rwanda Basketball Cup in 2025. 

Meanwhile Petro de Luanda are the former 2024 BAL champions and have reached their fourth BAL final appearance in six seasons, with 12 Angolan league titles and two African Champions Cup (2006 & 2015).

RSSB Tigers have won their first matchup against Petro, during the BAL Kalahari Conference in Pretoria, South Africa, in March in an 82-78 thriller game.

The atmosphere inside BK Arena is expected to be electric as Rwanda chases its first BAL title.                     A victory for RSSB Tigers would mark one of the biggest achievements in the country’s basketball history.