Thunder Crowned East Division Elite 16 Champions Again, Book Return to BAL
Nairobi City Thunder thrilled home fans once again after clinching the Road to BAL East Division Elite 16 title for the second year running. The Kenyan champions defeated Johannesburg Giants 94–84 in a charged final at the Kasarani Indoor Gymnasium on Sunday.
Thunder, coached by Bradley Ibs, sealed a spot in next year’s Basketball Africa League (BAL) on Saturday after overcoming Mozambique’s Ferroviario da Beira. They carried that momentum into the final, controlling the game from the opening tip to the final buzzer.
Giants Fight Back but Fall Short
The 5,000-seat arena was filled to capacity for the second straight day as fans roared the hosts on. Thunder built a 22-point lead in the second quarter, but the Giants mounted a spirited comeback after halftime.
Johannesburg reduced the gap to nine points at 91–82 after a deep three from Nkosinathi Sandile Sibanyoni with under three minutes left. However, late turnovers and missed shots cost them a chance to complete the turnaround.
The Giants also lost head coach Florsheim Ngwenya in the final minute after he was ejected, adding to the tension in the closing stages.
Thunder’s Balanced Attack
Captain Tyler Ongwae and centre Ater Majok anchored Thunder’s victory, each posting 17 points and four rebounds. Albert Odero added 14 points, while Eugene Adera dominated the boards with 12 rebounds and narrowly missed a double-double.
Thunder’s eight three-pointers in the third quarter restored a 22-point cushion heading into the final period. Although the Giants responded with a 23–11 run in the fourth, the deficit was too large to erase.
Coaches React
Giants head coach Florsheim Ngwenya admitted his side struggled early:
“I thought we played poorly in the opening quarter, and that has been our Achilles heel. They shot over 50 per cent from deep, which is impressive. We pushed in the second half, but it wasn’t enough.”Thunder head coach Bradley Ibs praised his players and fans:
“It’s great to keep a clean slate, return to the BAL and beat a strong team twice. The fans made the atmosphere electric. We had big leads, they kept fighting, but we stuck to our plan for the win.”
