Nairobi City Thunder crush GNBC to keep BAL qualification hopes alive

Nairobi City Thunder forward Ariel Okall (right) after their match against GNBC. [FIBA Basketball]

Nairobi City Thunder kept their hopes of qualifying for the Elite 16 of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) alive with a commanding 96-60 victory over Madagascar's GNBC.

The win improved their record to 2-1, providing a crucial boost to their chances as they approach the final day of qualifiers.

Coming into the clash, Thunder had a 1-1 ratio after suffering their first defeat in over ten months against Burundi's Urunani, while GNBC were riding high on a perfect 2-0 run.

The game began with Thunder taking an early 10-5 lead, but GNBC quickly responded, making it 10-8 before Francis Ramanampamonjy Mory gave the Islanders their first lead at 12-11.

However, Thunder's bench players, Albert Odero and Okall Koranga, turned the tide. They combined for an 11-point run that saw the Kenyan champions surge ahead to a 22-11 lead, forcing GNBC into a timeout.

The momentum remained with Thunder, and Koranga, in particular, was unstoppable, scoring 11 points in just five minutes to stretch the lead to 29-12 by the end of the first quarter.

Thunder had a slow start in the second quarter, failing to score for almost four minutes while GNBC cut the deficit to nine points at 29-20.

But Uchenna Iroegbu and Derrick Ogechi stepped up, scoring seven points between them to restore Thunder's dominance. By halftime, Thunder had pushed their lead to 50-26, courtesy of a 14-6 run to close out the second period.

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Despite a better performance from GNBC in the third quarter, where they narrowly edged Thunder 24-23, the Kenyans remained in control.

Coach Bradley Ibs rotated his bench players in the final quarter, and even with his second-string team on the floor, Thunder outscored GNBC 23-10 to seal the 96-60 victory.

The pivotal moment of the game came towards the end of the first quarter when Thunder went on an 11-point run that left GNBC struggling to keep up.

The Kenyan side's tight zone defense neutralized GNBC’s renowned three-point shooting, while Koranga’s explosive scoring run gave Thunder a decisive lead.

Derric Ogechi finished as Thunder’s top scorer with 19 points, tied with Uchenna Iroegbu, but it was Okall Koranga’s game-changing performance that made the difference.

He not only contributed 13 points but also grabbed six rebounds, five of them on the defensive end, helping to secure the win.

GNBC, known for their three-point shooting, struggled throughout the game, converting just 8-of-33 attempts (24.2%).

Thunder, on the other hand, displayed excellent shooting from beyond the arc, making 13-of-24 attempts (54.2%), a key factor in their victory.

With this win, both teams enter the final day of action with everything to play for. Nairobi City Thunder need a victory against hosts JKT to solidify their place in the Elite 16, while GNBC’s qualification hopes now rest on their performance against unbeaten Urunani.

Reflecting on the loss, GNBC's Solonirina Ndranto admitted, "This being our third consecutive match, we were a bit tired, and despite starting well, we couldn't keep up. Thunder took a huge lead before we could adjust. We still have a chance to qualify, and we'll bring our best game in the next match."

For Thunder, it was a crucial win. "This was a must-win match for us, and we executed as expected," said Okall Koranga.

"I’m glad I stepped up when called upon to help the team win, especially after missing the first two games. We take this momentum into the final match as we look to qualify."

With their sights set on the next round of the BAL qualifiers, Nairobi City Thunder will be hoping to carry their momentum into their final game and secure a place among Africa’s elite basketball teams.