Half of a rhyming game name

ALAI

Think of a fast-paced sport played with a curved wicker basket, often associated with the Basque region. The answer is the first part of its two-syllable name.

This clue refers to the game "Balai," a Filipino street game where players try to knock down a can using a slipper. The word "half" means you take the first half of "Balai," leaving you with "Bala," but since it's a rhyming game name, it actually hints at "Alai" (from "Balai" rhyming with "Alai," a variant or playful twist). The answer plays on splitting the word while keeping the sound familiar to those who know the game.