Nairobi City Thunder secure Elite 16 spot on Basketball Africa League debut

Nairobi City Stars players and technical bench celebrate after BAL victory. [BAL]

Nairobi City Thunder have made history by securing a place in the Elite 16 of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualifiers on their first attempt.

The Bradley Ibs-coached team finished second in the Road to BAL East Division Group D qualifiers with an impressive 3-1 record, earning their ticket to the final qualifying phase alongside undefeated Urunani.

In their decisive match, Thunder triumphed over Tanzania's JKT in a convincing 86-63 victory, booking their place in the Elite 16. The game saw Nairobi City Thunder fend off JKT’s spirited challenge, with quarter scores of 20-18, 23-09, 20-23, and 25-11.

Thunder now join Ulinzi Warriors and Kenya Ports Authority as the only Kenyan teams to reach the Elite 16, and they aim to break new ground by qualifying for the prestigious Basketball Africa League.

The game’s momentum shifted dramatically in the second quarter, where JKT struggled to score in the last five minutes, missing all their attempts.

During this period, Thunder went on a 14-0 run, establishing a 12-point lead that proved to be the game’s defining moment. Despite JKT’s attempts to close the gap in the second half, the damage done in the second quarter was too great to overcome.

Derrick Ogechi led Thunder's offense with a standout performance, dropping 24 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and providing 3 assists in just over 28 minutes on the court.

His dominant display was key to Thunder’s success, helping the Kenyan champions maintain their lead and ultimately secure the win.

Thunder’s shooting accuracy from beyond the arc was a significant factor in their victory. Despite making only 2 of 10 three-point attempts in the opening quarter, they finished the game with 12 successful three-pointers from 36 attempts, a 36.4% conversion rate.

The timing of these crucial treys allowed Thunder to repeatedly pull away from JKT, making it difficult for the hosts to regain control of the game.

Nairobi City Thunder's debut in the Road to BAL qualifiers has been a resounding success. They now have three weeks to regroup and prepare for the Elite 16, which is tentatively scheduled to begin on November 12.

Thunder will be looking to carry this momentum forward as they aim to secure a spot in the Basketball Africa League, a feat no Kenyan team has yet achieved.

Thunder’s hero, Derrick Ogechi, expressed both satisfaction and determination after the victory. "We came here with a target of going unbeaten to qualify. A heartbreaking one-point loss to Urunani denied us a perfect run, but we are happy to be in the Elite 16. Playing the home team in our final match was not easy. We struggled to make stops in the beginning but made adjustments in time for victory. The first hurdle is done, so we shift our focus to the Elite 16."

Nairobi City Thunder's success marks a significant achievement for Kenyan basketball as they continue their quest to make history in the Basketball Africa League.