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Omot, who joined Al Ahly for Season Three of the BAL, revealed that his individual success will go a long way in presenting opportunities to his fellow players from South Sudan.
South Sudan international Nuni Omot was named Basketball Africa League MVP after helping Egyptian giants Al Ahly defeat Senegal' AS Douanes in the final on Saturday.
Al Ahly broke away in the second half to take control of the game and become the second team from Egypt to lift the title. Zamalek won the first edition.
Key in the Al Ahly rotation was Omot, who scored a game-high 22 points, collected four rebounds and dished out two assists in front of a full-to-capacity BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.
19:30 - 27.05.2023
BAL Al Ahly crash AS Douanes to win Basketball Africa League
South Sudan forward Nuni Omot got hot early in the game to give Agustin Julbe Bosch's charges the much-needed offence.
The forward, who joined Al Ahly for Season Three of the BAL, revealed that his individual success will go a long way in presenting opportunities to his fellow players from South Sudan.
"It means a lot, honestly," Omot told the press after Saturday's final.
"For me, with how much talent is in South Sudan, our guys don't get the opportunity or credit that they should get," he added.
Omot averaged 18.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 28 minutes the entire competition.
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.
He was a crucial part of the Al Ahly offence and provided a size advantage against most of his opponents with his 6 feet 9-inch frame.
"I feel like, you know, with me playing and winning the championship, and the MVP, is gonna (going to) open doors for the younger kids and the younger generation to come.
"I think that's what's more important, honestly. To have kids get opportunities, we got young guys like Khaman (Maluach), who's on Senegal's team (AS Douanes), he's only 16 years old, and in the NBA Academy, he has a very bright future, and I think he's gonna be a pro as well and just for me to be able to do this means a lot, it means a lot for the country."
The 28-year-old's success in the BAL is a continuation of the great things that have come to be associated with South Sudan basketball in the last few years.
08:52 - 27.05.2023
BAL Carlos Morais: We prepared for the final not bronze game
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.
While the country's women's team won their first-ever competitive basketball game in the Fiba Zone V Afrobasket Qualifiers, the men's side qualified for the Fiba Basketball World Cup, with Omot as a key figure on the team.
"Just because of everything that has gone on in the previous years and how people portray and look at our country, it means the world because I just feel like opportunities are gonna open up, and that's what's important.
"Obviously, not everyone is granted equal opportunity as far as sports, life, you know, that's just the way it is, but I feel like with me opening this door, it's gonna present a lot of opportunities for the younger players."
Al Ahly's Omot, Petro de Luanda's Ater Majok and AS Douanes' Maluach are some of the players who represented South Sudan in Season Three of the BAL.
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