APR BBC stormed into the Basketball Africa League semi-finals with a commanding 104–73 victory over Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers in Pretoria. With a dominant interior display, Aliou Diarra delivered a massive double and continues to rank among the tournament’s elite big men, averaging 19.2 points, 13.0 rebounds per game and 5.0 offensive boards .

Veteran guard Ntore Habimana also shone, leading the BAL in assists with 6.3 per game and orchestrating APR’s offense. Alex Mpoyo complemented Diarra’s paint presence, combining for a wave of aggressive scoring that put the game out of reach very early.

In the previous match, APR stunned reigning champions Petro de Luanda with a 75–57 upset, powered by Diarra’s 19-point, 14-rebound effort and strong support from Nuni Omot’s 15 points .That victory added to APR’s confidence and set the tone for their quarter-final performance.

However, the win came at a cost: guard Obadiah Noel, who has been instrumental in APR’s success and known for clutch moments, exited early in the fourth quarter with a thigh injury. His status for the upcoming semi-final remains uncertain, and his absence could impact their backcourt depth.

Next up, APR will face Al Ahli Tripoli whom they were in the same Nile Conference for qualifiers.This will be a winner takes all semi-final clash. Tripoli secured their place with a 107–81 thrashing of Cape Verde’s Kriol Star, led by Fabian White Jr.’s dominant 34-point, 13-rebound outing . This matchup pits APR’s physical, paint-anchored frontcourt against Tripoli’s potent scoring and depth.

APR’s strengths, dominating inside play from Diarra and Mpoyo, plus confident, fluid offense remain intact. But Noel’s injury introduces a new challenge. Still, APR heads into this crucial semi-final carrying impressive form, belief, and momentum, making them a formidable obstacle on the path to the BAL final.