BAL Select Team Reaches Final Four As Quai 54 Celebrates 20th Anniversary

The Basketball Africa League (BAL) put together a select team of players from the league which reached the final four in their first-ever participation at the world’s biggest street basketball tourney which took place in Paris, France from July 1-2. The BAL team was made up of Ater James Majok (Petro de Luanda; Angola), Dane Miller Jr (SLAC; Guinea), Chris Crawford (AS Douanes; Senegal), Adonis Filer (REG; Rwanda), Falando Jones (City Oilers; Uganda), Najeal Young  (Ferroviário da Beira; Mozambique) and 2023 BAL Champion Ehab Amin (Al Ahly; Egypt). BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall and BAL Associate Vice President and Head of Content and Broadcast Operations Youcef Ouldyassia were present in Paris, providing valuable insights into the league’s participation and future plans.

In fact, Quai 54, the world’s premier street basketball and urban culture event, reached a milestone this summer as it celebrated its 20th anniversary at the iconic Simonne-Mathieu court in Roland-Garros. The two-day extravaganza, held from July 1-2, treated basketball fans to a captivating display of high-level basketball and entertainment.

This year’s tournament featured 16 teams from 10 countries, including Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a total of 160 pro and amateur players, including renowned NBA stars, competing for the coveted title. The knockout matches culminated in an exhilarating final showdown on Sunday evening, where champions emerged in both the men’s and women’s categories.

Beyond the thrilling on-court action, Quai 54 showcased the artistry of high-flying dunkers in an electrifying Dunk Contest orchestrated by the Dunk Legend Kadour Ziani. The event featured four standout performers: Tyler Currie (USA), Piotr Grabowski (Poland), Chris Staples (USA), and New Williams (USA), captivating the crowd with their jaw-dropping aerial displays on Saturday evening.

The weekend festivities were further enhanced by a lineup of concerts and entertainment, with nearly 10 renowned DJs spinning the decks. The energetic beats of Lord Issa, Just Dizle, DJ Iso, DJ Pee, DJ Nasty Nas, DJ Ou-Mar, and DJ Jacks set the perfect atmosphere for fans to enjoy in between games.

Mokobé, Ronisia, Omah Lay, accompanied by basketball commentators Duke Tshomba, Jamil Rouissi, and Lucas Nicot, injected an unparalleled level of excitement into the event with their electrifying presence both on and off the court.