Morais was the only Petro player to score in double figures on the night as the rest of the team struggled to get going on both ends of the ball.
Petro de Luanda captain Carlos Morais said after the team’s defeat to Stade Malien in the third-place playoff game that, as a team, they prepared to be in the final and not the bronze game.
The Angolan giants were bundled out of contention by AS Douanes in the semi-final and had to settle for a third-place game.
But even that did not end well as Malien turned on the style to take advantage of a sluggish Petro display and condemn them to fourth place.
“Our main goal was to win the BAL (Basketball Africa League) this year,” Morais told the press after Friday’s defeat.
19:42 - 26.05.2023
BAL Aliou Diarra guides Stade Malien to Basketball Africa League bronze
Shooting 11-for-18 from the field, Diarra was too big for Petro and limited Ater Majok and Jone Pedro in the paint.
“I personally really thought that this was the year,” he added.
Falling in the semis clearly left the entire Petro team devastated, and the body language showed a team that lacked fight and somewhat disinterested in whatever was happening.
“Losing against AS Douanes was very tough for us, and coming back today to play against this team was even tougher,” Morais revealed.
10:28 - 25.05.2023
BAL How AS Douanes shocked Petro de Luanda to reach Basketball Africa League final
The pair of Jean Jacques Boissy and Marcus Crawford was unplayable for Petro and made it tough for every matchup thrown at them.
Malien took the game to Petro and were led by forward Aliou Diarra to get onto the podium.
Diarra registered a double-double that had a game-high 25 points and 12 rebounds to lead Kaba Kante’s charges to third place.
Morais was the only Petro player to score in double figures on the night as the rest of the team struggled to get going on both ends of the ball.
Petro were generous with possession and gave it away 24 times to pay the price.
“When you make 24 turnovers against a team like this, it is very tough to win.
“I am disappointed but at the same time proud of my teammates because we tried the whole season to get there.
“We tried to be at our best, and we just couldn’t get it done.”
21:15 - 26.05.2023
BAL AS Douanes dare Al Ahly in Basketbll Africa League final
Having defeated last season’s champions US Monastir in the Sahara Conference, Gueye’s charges cleared any doubts with victory over Petro to put the rest on notice.
Having finished third in the first-ever BAL season and second last year, fourth place will feel like a massive failure for Petro, who were projected to lift this year’s competition.
It is the last two games of the campaign that mattered in the end, and they both ended in defeat for Jose Neto’s charges.
With their 6-2 record, Petro are going home with no podium finish for the first time in their BAL history.
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