Nairobi City Thunder strike down Jo’burg Giants, win ‘Road to BAL Elite 16 East Division’ title

Kenya Basketball Federation Men’s Premier League champions Nairobi City Thunder beat South Africa’s Johannesburg Giants 94–84 at Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi on Sunday to retain Road to Basketball Africa League (BAL) Elite 16 (East Division) title.

By reaching the final, both Nairobi City Thunder and Johannesburg Giants qualified for the 2026 BAL season.

The win capped a dominant campaign for Coach Bradley Ibs’ men, who displayed composure, depth, and three-point firepower to win in front of their home crowd.

Thunder started aggressively, taking control of the game early by taking the first two quarters 28–17 and 22–21 for a 50–38 halftime lead. At one point, the Kenyan champions stretched the gap to 20 points by leading 48–28, and showcasing their offensive sharpness, much to the delight of their fans.

Improved tempo

However, Johannesburg Giants responded with improved tempo and defensive pressure, reducing the damage before the break. Despite a brief scoring drought, Nairobi City Thunder ended the half with two free throws from Eugene Adera, holding firm as momentum threatened to shift.

The third quarter proved decisive. Thunder exploded offensively, widening the lead to 22 points after bagging it 33-23 thanks to a barrage of three-pointers. Derrick Ogechi and Tylor Ongwae each drilled three long-range shots, while Adera and Albert Odero added one apiece. Their perimeter accuracy and quick ball movement left Johannesburg struggling to contain Thunder’s rhythm.

However, Johannesburg Giants refused to fold. They stormed the fourth quarter, outscoring Thunder 18–8 with three minutes left, leaving fans inside the packed arena on the edge of their seats. Although Thunder lost the quarter 11–23, their earlier dominance ensured they maintained a safe cushion to close out the match and complete a double over the South African side, having beaten them 86–83 in the group stage on November 20.

In the final, Ater Majok and Ongwae each led Nairobi City Thunder with 17 points, and Odero added 14. Ogechi and Lance Robert Thomas chipped in 11 apiece, underlining the team’s balanced attack. Johannesburg Giants’ top performers were Dhieu Deing with 21 points,  Nkosinathi Sibanyoni with 16, and Lehgonolo Charles with 14.

Earlier, the bronze medal match experienced a brief interruption due to lighting issues, but the Dar City Basketball Team from Tanzania still cruised past Ferroviario da Beira from Mozambique.

Sealed win 

Dar led 50–31 at halftime after strong first and second quarters, faltered slightly by losing the third 19–25, but sealed the win with a 23–21 fourth-quarter effort. Raphiael Putney (28 points) and Nisre Zouzoua (25) spearheaded Dar’s offense, backed by Deng Angok (18) and Hasheem Thabeet (17). Ferroviario saw scoring from Helton Ubisse and Joshua Thomas (16 each) and Ke Tarrious Bouchum and Ismael Burmamade (11 apiece). Solo Diabate delivered an impressive 14 assists for Dar.

By reaching the East Division final, both Thunder and Johannesburg Giants secured automatic qualification to the 2026 BAL season. They now join an elite line-up of qualified clubs, including Club Africain from Tunisia, Petro de Luanda from Angola, Al Ahly from Egypt, ASC Ville de Dakar from Senegal, FUS Rabat from Morocco, Jeunesse Club d’Abidjan from Cote d’Ivoire, APR Rwanda, who will host the tournament in Kigali, and defending champions Al Ahly Tripoli from Libya. 

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